A Quick Glimpse at Kodiak’s History

The Kodiak History Museum is housed in the Russian-American Magazin (store in Russian). The magazin was built in 1808 by the Russian-American Company, making it the oldest building in Alaska, the earliest Russian-built structure in the United States, and the oldest log structure on the West Coast. The Russian-American Company used the building to store valuable sea otter pelts ready to be traded. Following the Alaska Purchase (1867), ownership of the building transferred to the Alaska Commercial Company, who used it as a store and employee housing. In 1911, an ACC employee, WJ Erskine, purchased the building to use as a private residence for his family. In 1948, the building was acquired by the Donnelly & Acheson Mercantile Company, who rented the building to tenants along with a boarding house. The building became a National Historic Landmark in 1962. Following the 1964 earthquake and tsunami, the building became the home of the then-called Baranov Museum with the City of Kodiak taking ownership of the building in 1972.

1780-1880s

| Russian Colony in an Alutiiq Land

The magazin has been at the heart of Kodiak’s history for over 200 years. During times of Russian colonization the building served as the Russian-American store, the center of commerce and control.

1867-1940s

| Kodiak Becomes American

In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia. Kodiak went from experiencing Russian colonization to Americanization.

1911-1948 | Erskine House

The Erskine House served as a community gathering place throughout the family’s tenure in the building.

1912 | Nova Rupta

On June 6, 1912 Mt. Nova Rupta sent a cloud of ash to Kodiak. Kodiak residents were saved by a boat, U.S. Revenue Cutter Manning that sailed the town out to sea for fresh air. You can still see the layer of ash in Kodiak’s soil today.

1939-1945 | World War II

During WWII, Kodiak went from a sleepy fishing village to a bustling city.

1964 | The 1964 Earthquake & Tsunami

On March 27, 1964, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake shook Alaska. The damage from the earthquake lead to Kodiak’s downtown being almost completely rebuilt.

1950s – Present | Fishing Town, USA

The fishing industry remains the foundation of Kodiak’s culture and economy. Kodiak is also home to the largest Coast Guard base in the world.

Find Out More Online

Visit www.kodiakhistorymuseum.org or call 907-486-5920 for our current hours and cost of admission.

Visit www.kodiakhistorymuseum.org or call (907) 486-5920 for our current hours and cost of admission.

For more information regarding KHM’s temporary exhibits, visit www.kodiakhistorymuseum.org/ khm-exhibits

For more information about how to conduct research at KHM, visit www.kodiakhistorymuseum. org/explore-the-collections/object-and-artifact-donation/

For more information on space rentals, including fees, visit www.kodiakhistorymuseum.org/ programs/space-rental/

The Kodiak History Museum operates as a partnership between the Kodiak Historical Society and the City of Kodiak, working to preserve and share Kodiak’s history. Our mission is to facilitate exploration of the natural, cultural, and artistic heritage of Kodiak Island and surrounding communities to create opportunities for the public to discover, share, and exchange knowledge using the collections and resources made available through the operation of the Kodiak History Museum.

Following a 2019 redesign and rebranding, the Baranov Museum became the Kodiak History Museum. The redesign launched KHM’s decolonizing process – a process in which KHM moves from being a store house to a story house. Kodiak’s story house is a place where Kodiak community members can gather and share their stories, either through temporary exhibits, research appointments, and space rentals.

KHM’s temporary exhibits are co-created with community partners following a public call for proposals. These exhibits are a chance for our Kodiak community to explore topics and issues, both historical and contemporary, that are relevant to their lives and experiences today.

KHM cares for over 2,300 objects and over 1,300 archive collections that can be viewed on exhibit or during a research appointment. Our upstairs research space is available for those interested in learning more about Kodiak history.

The Russian-American Magazin has long been a community gathering space, and we are continuing this tradition today. KHM’s galleries, activities porch, and grounds are available for space rentals.