Fort William H. Seward - Haines AK
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 59° 13.709 W 135° 26.387
8V E 474901 N 6565576
Fort Seward was the first permanent military base in Alaska. Completed in 1904 on 100 acres of land. It remained active until 1944. Named for William H. Seward, the U.S. Secretary of State who arranged the purchase of Alaska from Russia.
Waymark Code: WM163PV
Location: Alaska, United States
Date Posted: 04/27/2022
Views: 0
TEXT on the Alaska Historical Marker:
Fort William H. Seward A National Historic Landmark
Fort Seward was the first permanent military base in Alaska. Completed in 1904 on 100 acres of land donated by the Presbyterian Church, it remained active until 1944. Named for William H. Seward, the U.S. Secretary of State who arranged the purchase of Alaska from Russia. The Fort was renamed Chilkoot Barracks in the 1920’s to avoid confusion with Seward, Alaska.
(Inscription under the photo on the bottom left) :
1918-1921
Continuing up the hill on the right side, you will pass the long white quartermaster supply building, where furnishings and basic supplies were distributed. The cold storage room was located in the basement. In the 1960’s a large walk-in cooler served as a temporary morgue when the Haines facility closed.
(Inscription under the photo in the bottom center) : 1930
Up the dock on the right side, the small red building housed an underwater communication cable linking Haines to the continental U.S. Messages were commonly sent in Morse code.
(Inscription under the photo in the upper right):
July 1920
The Port of Chilkoot dock is the original Army dock. Notice Paid Advertisement
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the pullout for mule wagons to pass each other midway down the right side. Mules played an important role both in the construction of the Fort and as a mode of transportation.
(Inscription under the photo in the lower right) 1920’s
Erected by The City of Haines.
Marker Name: Fort William H. Seward
Marker Type: City
Addtional Information:
Marker is in Haines, Alaska, in Haines Borough. Marker is on Beach Road. Marker is in this post office area: Haines AK 99827, United States of America.
Date Dedicated / Placed: Not listed
Marker Number: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Preferred would be to post a photo of you OR your GPS at the marker location. Also if you know of any additional links not already mentioned about this bit of Alaska history please include that in your log.