Most Haunted Places in America: The Alaskan Hotel

Alaska, considered the last frontier, also ignited a nationwide gold rush in the late 1880’s when Richard Harris, Joe Juneau and a Tlingit Indian guide discovered gold in the Silver Bow Basin. This is how some of the coastal towns got their start. Miners would pitch tents and that is where they slept when not panning for gold. Juneau, now the state capital, got its start that way. Now it boasts close to 31,000 people and a hotel that is one of the most haunted places in America.

The hotel, amply named The Alaskan Hotel, was built in 1913. The stoned faced grey three story building was built by a partnership of James and John McCloskey and Jules Caro. The McCloskey’s hit gold for their money and bought the land; Caro had the hotel idea and brought in the remaining capitol to build it. The 46 room hotel opened in September of 1913 and according to history found on its website was opened with much fanfare and this announcement,

“At 6 p.m. the management will formally unlock the doors and the keys will then be attached to a toy balloon which will carry them out of sight. From the moment the doors swing open, never to close, the hotel will be for the accommodation of guests.” Today the Alaskan Hotel is the longest running hotel in Juneau.

As with most mining towns the men out numbered the woman and such the hotel also doubled as a bordello. The hotel was the place to go and many miners would spend all day looking for gold just to come back and spend it all at the hotel. No wonder so many seem to be still practicing this today. The most compelling story though surrounds that of a woman who was killed in the hotel and whose apparition is still seen wondering around today.

A miner and his young wife came to Juneau like all the others, seeking their fortune. The miner left his bride in the hotel and set out to work the mines for what he said would be 3 weeks. Those three weeks came and went and the husband had not returned. The wife, now broke and desperate, turned to prostitution. Two more weeks past and the husband returns and is so upset over what he wife has done, kills her in their room of the hotel, room 218.

They have been several claims by hotel management that guests who have stayed in that room have asked to move out. Some claim they have seen a woman in the room, been touched, or the feeling of someone sitting on the bed. Employees claim that that room is always cold and items will be moved around when cleaned.

Paranormal activity however has been reported all over the hotel, especially the south side. People have heard noises and voices and claim to see many apparitions dressed in period clothing that resemble the people that are in the paintings around the hotel.

So it seems the Alaskan Hotel can offer you a lot of excitement if you are ever in Juneau, whether you are hunting gold or the paranormal. Though there are no official ghost tours being held at the hotel, a room with a private bath can be had for around $90.

Related posts:

1. The Haunted Baker Hotel
2. The Haunting of the St. James Hotel
3. Haunted Goldfield Hotel
4. The Haunted Mount Washington Hotel
5. The Hauntings of Hotel Meade