Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Seward (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Alaska SeaLife Center, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, and Mount Marathon. Also, be sure to include Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Seward (Alaska).
Table of Contents
Alaska SeaLife Center
Aquarium in Seward, Alaska. The Alaska SeaLife Center, Alaska’s premier public aquarium and Alaska's only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility, is located on the shores of Resurrection Bay in Seward in the U.S. state of Alaska. Open since May 1998, it is dedicated to understanding and maintaining the integrity of the marine ecosystem of Alaska through research, rehabilitation, conservation, and public education. It is the only facility in the world specifically dedicated to studying the northern marine environment and the only one designed at the outset to combine research with public education and visitor components. The Alaska SeaLife Center generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska's marine ecosystems.
The Alaska SeaLife Center project cost $55 million; Exxon Valdez oil spill settlement funds made up the $37.5 million portion of funds dedicated to research and rehabilitation. An additional $12 million was raised by selling bonds, and $1.1 million was raised locally through private donations.
The Alaska SeaLife Center is a private, non-profit corporation with approximately 105 full-time employees and a staff of volunteers and interns.
In September 2011, the Alaska SeaLife Center was granted accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This acknowledgment places the ASLC in the top tier of their field as less than 5% of the nation's 6000 zoos and aquariums currently have this standard of certification.[1]
Address: 301 Railway Ave, 99664-3801 Seward
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
Episcopal church in Seward, Alaska. St. Peter's Episcopal Church is a historic Episcopal church located at 239 Second Avenue at Adams Street in Seward, Alaska, United States. The first Episcopal services in Seward were held in 1904 by a priest from Valdez. The church building was constructed between 1905 and 1906 and was consecrated on April 1, 1906, by the Rt. Rev. Peter Trimble Rowe, the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska. The interior of the church is noted for the 1925 reredos of Christ's Resurrection and Ascension which was done by Dutch artist Jan Van Emple.
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
St. Peter's is still an active Episcopal parish.[2]
Mount Marathon
Mountain in Alaska. Mount Marathon, or officially Marathon Mountain, is a 4,826-foot mountain summit directly west of Seward in the Kenai Mountains in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated in Chugach National Forest, rising above Resurrection Bay, 2.35 mi south of Mount Benson, and 2 mi north of Bear Mountain. The namesake of the mountain is the Mount Marathon Race held every Fourth of July.[3]
Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge
Nature, Natural attraction, Boat or ferry, Fjord
Address: 1304 4th Ave, 99664 Seward
Phoenix Peak
Mountain in Alaska. Phoenix Peak is a 5,187-foot mountain summit located in the Kenai Mountains, on the Kenai Peninsula, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated in Kenai Fjords National Park, 2 mi southwest of Mount Benson, 1.1 mi northwest of Marathon Mountain, and 3.5 mi west of Seward, Alaska. The first ascent of the peak was made July 23, 1964, by Don Stockard of the Mountaineering Club of Alaska. The peak was named in 1965 by the Mountaineering Club of Alaska for the first ship ever built in Russian America, the Phoenix, which was constructed in 1794 by Russians in nearby Resurrection Bay. The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1966 by the United States Geological Survey.[4]
Seward Community Library & Museum
Library, History museum, Museum
Address: 239 6th Ave, 99664 Seward
Hoben Park
Park in Seward, Alaska. Hoben Park, also known as Arcade Park, Nile Park and Ladies Park, is a city park on the waterfront of Seward, Alaska. It is bounded by the Alaska Sealife Center, the Seward Depot, Railroad Avenue, and Resurrection Bay. The park's north and west sides have a decorative concrete wall, part of which is original to the park's 1923 construction date. The park has been generally restored to its 1920s appearance, although the north side has been shortened due to road widening. Construction of park formed a major part of the city's self-promotion as the "Gateway to Alaska", and was timed to be finished in time for the visit to the city by President Warren G. Harding on July 13, 1923, when completion of the Alaska Railroad was celebrated. The park is named for Hedley V. "Harry" Hoben, a prominent local citizen who was mayor in 1918–19. Hoben promoted the park and paid for its maintenance until his death in 1948.
The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.[5]
Swetman House
Swetman House, also known as Swetmann House and Gerhard "Stucco" Johnson House, is a historic residence at 325 5th Avenue in Seward, Alaska. The house was constructed in 1916 and was originally located adjacent to Seward's Mount Marathon. In 1920 or 1921, the original owner, Gerhard "Stucco" Johnson, sold the house to pharmacist Elwyn Swetman on condition that Swetman move the property to his own lot. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 17, 1978.[6]
Jesse Lee Home for Children
Home in Seward, Alaska. The Jesse Lee Home for Children was a former home for displaced children on Swetmann Avenue in Seward, Alaska, United States. It was operated by the United Methodist Church from its opening in 1926 until the building suffered damage from a 1964 earthquake and operations were relocated to a new building in Anchorage.[7]
Ballaine House
Building in Seward, Alaska. The Ballaine House is a historic homestead in Seward, Alaska, United States. The home was built in 1905 by prominent Seward businessman Frank Ballaine. Frank was the brother of John Ballaine, who is considered the founding father of Seward. The building currently houses a bed and breakfast.[8]
Brown & Hawkins Store
Brown & Hawkins is a general store in Seward, Alaska. It was founded in 1904 to serve the town and those constructing of the Alaska Central Railroad, and has been the oldest continuously operating business in Seward. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. It was announced in 2013 that the owners were retiring without finding anyone to buy their business.
Brown & Hawkins was a business venture between partners Charles E. Brown of Montreal, Quebec, Canada and T.W. Hawkins of Roanoke, Virginia. The two men met in Nome during the Gold Rush. They first started business together in Valdez in 1900 before moving to Seward in 1903. Their business in Seward included a store and bank.
The store building began as a one-story 12 by 24 feet (3.7 m × 7.3 m) frontier store with a low false front in 1903. It evolved through four periods of construction to add and modify additional structures.
As of 2009 Brown & Hawkins was still owned by the Hawkins family, making it the oldest store in Alaska under the same ownership. The original Mosler safe and brass cash register were displayed in the store.
On June 4, 2019, Brown & Hawkins Building was sold to Jeffrey and Michelle Cobble.
“The sale of the building is really big news. According to First American Title, it is the last parcel of land that has remained with the family of one of Seward’s founding fathers to be title transferred.
Although we have had several persons interested in this Historic Property on the National Register this is the first Buyers we have felt comfortable with being good custodians for this Brown and Hawkins historic treasure.
The Buyer is an architect who appreciates heritage and both he and his wife are professional wildlife and outdoor photographers who desire to establish a very special Cobble-Art Gallery on sight.
So, needless to say, we handpicked these buyers to end this era of Brown & Hawkins in Seward and to move forward with our love for Seward with people who care as much as we do for this wonderful town and residents.
Our four generations of Darlings were on hand this week to share this special time with us.” - Iris Darling[9]
Address: 207 & 209 4th Ave, Seward