Stedman–Thomas Historic District

The Stedman–Thomas Historic District encompasses what was historically the southern portion of Ketchikan, Alaska. It extends along Stedman and Thomas Streets, from Ketchikan Creek in the north to East Street in the south, and includes a few properties on adjacent spur side streets. In the early days of the city, the area was a seasonal Native fishing camp just south of the creek, but the Alaskan gold rushes around the turn of the 20th century brought an influx of settlers to the area.

Stedman–Thomas Historic District
Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
Overhead view of Stedman Street and the historic district taken from a cruise ship in August 2010
Stedman–Thomas Historic District is located in Alaska
Stedman–Thomas Historic District
LocationStedman Street, Thomas Street, Inman Street, Brown Way, and Tatsuda Street, Ketchikan, Alaska
Coordinates55°20′26″N 131°38′25″W / 55.34056°N 131.64028°W / 55.34056; -131.64028
Area5 acres (2.0 ha)
NRHP reference No.96000062[1]
AHRS No.KET-341
Added to NRHPFebruary 21, 1996

Foreign workers and Natives generally lived south of the creek, and the area became known as Indian Town. As the town expanded in this area, commercial and residential buildings were built on pilings, something that only gradually began to change when fill was brought into Stedman Street in the 1930s. Most of the buildings on this stretch of Stedman Street were built between about 1900 and 1930, and are vernacular wood-frame structures. The commercial buildings facing Stedman Street generally have false fronts, which hide their gable roofs. The district include's Ketchikan's oldest continuously operating retail establishment, Ohashi's, which is located at 223 Stedman Street.[2]

The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.[1]

Contributing properties

edit
 
The Potlatch Tavern

The historical district contains a total of 34 contributing and 13 non-contributing properties. The most representative, built between 1904 and 1936 are:

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "NRHP nomination for Stedman–Thomas Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved November 2, 2014.