The Gilmore Building!

The Gilmore Building
What is it? The Gilmore Hotel is the oldest hotel in Ketchikan!
What makes it historical? Folks flocked to Ketchikan in the 1920s to have a part in the booming lumber, fishing, and mining industries, so the town needed more buildings to house them! Unfortunately, like many quickly expanding cities, Ketchikan fell victim to a big fire in 1926, which took out the Pioneer Hotel and nine other businesses in town!

So, to keep folks housed, P.J. Gilmore, Sr. got to work building a new hotel. When it opened on February 20, 1927, it featured all the modern accoutrements, like a telephone in each room! Fourteen rooms even had their own bathrooms! Today, it’s one of the last remaining 1920s-era buildings in Ketchikan!

How can I Help the Helpers? HERE’S HOW:

  • Spend the night at the Gilmore Hotel!
  • Become a member of the Tongass Historical Society!
  • Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
Where is this place? 326 Front St
Ketchikan, AK AK 99901

From Anchorage: ~1675mi (2696km) — 28hrs
From Fairbanks: ~1559mi (2509km) — 26hrs
From Juneau: ~297mi (478km) — 5hrs
From Nome: ~1306mi (2102km) — 9hrs

When should I go? Whenever the mood strikes you!

Click here to see more sites on the National Register of Historic Places!

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