Anchorage Pioneers who built the town We Remember

Before there were streets, theaters, or schools, there were Anchorage Pioneers living in tents near Ship Creek and deciding this rough camp was worth building.

This page begins with that hard beginning, then leads into the lives behind the town—from Russian Jack and Mother White to Russ Merrill and Andrew Christensen.

By the end, Anchorage feels less like a historical backdrop and more like a community shaped by grit, generosity, and resolve.

They helped turn a rag-tag tent city into what became Anchorage, Alaska.

Others came later on and made their mark in Alaska's largest city.

Anchorage Awaits: Reliving the Adventurous Spirit of Anchorage's Original Settlers

Long before the Alaska Railroad set up shop on the banks of Ship Creek, there were early settlers in the area.

Read about those early settlers who were the first to live in what would become Anchorage, Alaska in the Last Frontier.

Russian Jack Elementary school and the Russian Jack area of Anchorage are all named after a notorious bootlegger

In the 1920s, Russian Jack built a cabin on a 320-acre tract of land near Anchorage, containing a large spring and plenty of trees. That area is now known as Russian Jack Springs.

Read the story of the colorful character known as Russian Jack, an innovative bootlegger.

Anchorage Pioneers
the people who built Anchorage

Unlock the Story of Martha “Mother” White, an Unexpected Friend

Her generosity was legendary.

Meet Martha “Mother” White and discover how the early pioneers built, not just a town, but a community.

A Nostalgic Journey: How Cap Lathrop Brought Cinematic Magic to Anchorage

This is the 4th Avenue we fondly remember.

How Anchorage pioneer Cap Lathrop built the 4th Avenue Theatre, Anchorage's most loved movie palace.

Meet the Surprisingly Innovative Anchorage Pioneer Edgar Tarwater

In the 1924 photo above, Edgar “Tar” Tarwater is the fellow in the middle with his hands in his back pocket, standing next to a dog.

Take a look at Anchorage Pioneer, Edgar Tarwater and discover.

Remarkably Pioneering Alaska Aviator, Russel Merrill

The Alaska aviator that Merrill Field is named after.

Earlier, on August 20, 1925, Russel Merrill and his aviation partner Roy Davis had become the first to fly an airplane to Anchorage.

Meet pioneering aviator Russ Merrill and discover his contributions to Anchorage, and Alaska.

The Innovative Man who Created the Official Town of Anchorage, Alaska

He laid out the town, sold the first lots and served as Anchorage's unofficial advisor.

His name was Andrew Christensen, and he was a true Anchorage pioneer.

Whispers of the Past: Unveiling the Story Behind How the Anchorage Community of Muldoon got its Name

His name was Arnold L. Muldoon.

They tried to burn him out, the even shot at him, but he refused to be bullied off his land.

He even built the beginning of Muldoon Road.

Meet Arnold L. Muldoon and discover the story behind an Anchorage community.

Anchorage Pioneers

In 1915, Jane Mears pushed to create the first children's school in Anchorage

In May 1915 with her two daughters, Jo and Betty. While they awaited completion of a cottage, the family occupied a plank-floor tent, cooked over a wood stove, and burned kerosene for light.

Her husband, Frederick Mears, was the Principal Engineer for the Alaska Railroad.

Read about Jane Mears time in early Anchorage.

Remembering the Trailblazers: How Two Pioneers Forged the Heart of Anchorage

Pioneers like Edward and Jenny Carlson built Anchorage with hard work.

In the photo above they're tending their 1922 garden because vegetables were hard to come by in early Anchorage.

Remember Bert's Drug Store?
The story of “Osky” and Henrietta Weeda

Luther Johan Weeda, known to his friends as “L.J.” or “Osky” first arrived in Anchorage, Alaska in 1929. His first job was cooking for the Alaska Railroad.

But his brother Bert was also in town and had Bert’s Drug Store located at 4th and G Street. “Osky” later decided to work for him.

Two adventurous souls, meet Osky and Henrietta and discover their story.

Hewitt's Drug Store, the Fur Rendezvous and the Anchorage Fire Department owe a lot to Thomas “Tom” Bevers?

He became the town’s first paid firefighter. He was paid the sum of 155 dollars per month in the mostly volunteer fire department.

After some time in Anchorage, Tom Bevers became the “Unofficial Greeter” in Anchorage.

Innovation and Grit
Meet U.G. and Mary Crocker
of Crocker's Department Store

They Built one of Anchorage's First Department Stores

You may have shopped in Crocker's Department Store in downtown Anchorage.

Meet Anton Anderson, “Mr. Alaska Railroad”, and discover who created the Whittier Tunnel

One of Anderson’s achievements was the construction of the Eklutna Hydroelectric Power Project Dam, located 40 miles northeast of Anchorage.

Take a look at the Anton Anderson Story and discover a true pioneer.

Capturing the Alaskan Dream: A Journey Through Sydney Laurence’s Timeless Works

His love for the mountain, known as McKinley, moved him to create wonderful paintings.

Get to know Sydney Laurence, Alaska's most renown painter and discover.

Echoes of the Past: The Life and Times of Anchorage Pioneer Nellie Brown

A tent on Ship Creek Flats, that served as the Forest Service office, was also the Brown’s home when Nellie and her husband Jack first arrived in what would become Anchorage.

Read the story of Nellie and Jack Brown, and you'll get a better idea of what it was like in the early days of Anchorage.

From Tent City to Anchorage: The Legacy of Harry and Katsuki Kimura's Hand Laundry by Ship Creek

From a simple hand laundry service on the banks of Ship Creek Flats in around 1914, to well know Anchorage laundry, Snow White cleaners.

Relive the story of Anchorage's Kimura family and discover.

A Closing Thought

It took a lot of grit and determination to make a go of it in those early days of Anchorage.

Nothing was easy.

However, those who did stand up to the challenge deserve our thanks and admiration. 

And you have to admit, that even colorful characters like Russian Jack, added their own spice to the story of Anchorage.