Leopold David House, Anchorage

The Leopold David House, located on West Second Avenue in Anchorage, is an enduring symbol of early Anchorage architecture and civic history. Constructed around 1917, this 1陆-story bungalow exemplifies the Craftsman style popular during that era, featuring a front-gable roof, dormers, and a wooden frame. Its design includes deep eaves adorned with Craftsman brackets, a gabled porch supported by box columns, and a semihexagonal bay window鈥攁ll set within a symmetrical yet distinctly bungalow layout.

Leopold David, an immigrant from Germany who would become Anchorage鈥檚 first mayor in 1920, commissioned this larger-than-average home after purchasing land during the 1915 Anchorage land auction. Though it remains uncertain if he used a building kit or commissioned custom plans, the home鈥檚 size distinguished it from neighboring residences. Only government-commissioned cottages built for high-ranking Alaska Engineering Commission officials approached its scale.

Now painted blue and gray with white trim, the house has undergone a few modifications, including a renovated basement that expanded its footprint to 2,500 square feet. Originally a private residence, the house today serves as a law offices, marking its shift from personal to professional use. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, it stands as a well-preserved example of Anchorage鈥檚 early bungalow architecture.

David鈥檚 legacy as Anchorage鈥檚 inaugural mayor reflected his deep commitment to his adopted city. Serving three terms, he guided Anchorage through its transition from federal oversight to a locally governed community. His impact on Anchorage鈥檚 civic development remains as significant as the house he once called home, preserving the pioneering spirit of one of Anchorage鈥檚 most respected early residents.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Anchorage. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Leopold David House
Sight Location: Anchorage, USA (See walking tours in Anchorage)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Anchorage Historical Buildings

Walking Tours in Anchorage, Alaska

Create Your Own Walk in Anchorage

Creating your own self-guided walk in Anchorage is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Anchorage Introduction Walking Tour

Anchorage was settled in 1914 and incorporated as a city six years later. It was named after a hardware and clothing store that was held in a dry-docked steamship nearby. That store was called "The Anchorage." The city holds almost half of the population of Alaska and is one of the largest cities by area in the United States.

Though Anchorage was settled in the 20th century,... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles

Anchorage Historical Buildings

As a perfect basecamp for exploring much of what Alaska has to offer, Anchorage is the font of the state鈥檚 history. The Downtown鈥檚 convenient grid pattern 鈥� compact enough to be walked by curious visitors ready to explore the 49th state's largest and most important city 鈥� was set up at the same time as the construction started on the Government Hill neighborhood in 1915.

Many of... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles

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