Baranov Museum- Kodiak, Alaska (oldest western style building in Alaska)
The Baranov Museum Building was originally constructed as a fur warehouse by the Russian America Company during the height of the sea otter fur trade period sometime around 1795. The date is approximate, because it is referred to in the journal of the manager, Alexander Baranov, after he moved operations from a previous site to the present site of the city of Kodiak.The building passed to the Alaska Commercial Company,upon sale of Alaska by the Russians to the United States in 1867. The building has always been a focal point of the community, and remains so! From it's use as a warehouse, to it's use as a retail store, to a home, boarding house, and now as a city museum, the building has undergone change and renovation, and restoration. The building survived the 1964 earthquake and tsunami, when it was surrounded by utter devastation. Inside the Victorian exterior is the original Russian log warehouse! As you can imagine, a building of this size and age, in the challenging climate of maritime Alaska, is in need of vigilant maintenance, and energy efficiency upgrades.This is difficult in the present economy. As a person involved in the preservation field, I know of no other building more deserving.It has been a place to "dwell" and adapt for over 200 years !
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