Built in 1915, this one room schoolhouse served children of every age and grade as Anchorage's first source of education when the city began. On May 25, 1965, the AnchorageCity Council approve the plan to relocate the Pioneer Hall (as it was then called, it is now known as the Pioneer School House) and put it in operational condition including a new basement and all of the amenities available at the time.
The City of Anchorage arranged a land swap with the Alaska State Division of Lands to obtain a desirable 1 acre tract of land on 3rd Avenue, west of the Alaska Native Hospital (which has been rebuilt on Tudor Road and is now called known as Alaska Native Medical Center). The vision at the time was to bring a number of historical old buildings , revamp them with appropriate period furnishings, and make it a visitor attraction.
Three agencies were instrumental in the relocation of the Pioneer School House during the summer of 1965; the Centennial Commision, the Cook Inlet Native Association, and the Anchorage Womans Club ( the club matched the $10,000 that had been collected for the move) allowed the move to begin that summer.
The City of Anchorage assumed title and control of the schoolhouse and the land. It was stipulated in the arangement that the parks and Recreation department of the city of Anchorage would not be responsible for the maintanemce and upkeep and that no city funds would be used on the buildings or on the developement of the Historical Park until 1966.
The Pioneer School House was to be used as a meeting space as well as a display facility for museum type exhibits and native artifacts. The Cook inlet Nartive Association planned to help with maintennance and painting of the building and to lend display items.
At 2:00 pm on August 9 , 1965 ben Crawford memorial Park was dedicated and the Pioneer School House was recognized as Anchorage's first school and Pioneer Hall (the sign in front of the building was dedicated in 1973).
In 1967, The Anchorage Womans Club arranged a tour of Anchorage with buses, leaving from the park every Thursday for ten weeks. At a cost of $1.50 per person the tour included refreshments and the trappers cabins were open for viewing (cabins are closed now except for special events).
Numerous Arbor Day Ceremonies have been held in the park and many of the trees and shrubs on the property are a result of those plantings and cerimonies.The Anchorage Garden Club is one of the organizations who have used the building for meetings throughout the past 40 years, and they have contributed to the gardens and grounds of the property and park. Other contributors to the park have included the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Campfire Girls.
Every year, during the month of April, the Anchorage Womans Club staffs the Pioneer School House with personnel and invite students in the Anchorage School District to experience what school was like in 1915 Anchorage.
The building has been used as a community center since its beginning and is still available for rental by community groups .Now,the building is used as a meeting place for organizations such as the Anchorage Womans Club and the Anchorage Garden Club and r ecently, the schoolhouse has heard a different beat of the Tango Classes and other Latino dance classes taught here.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 the building is owned by the Municipality of Anchorage and managed by the Anchorage Womans Club. Admission to the Pioneer School House is free, when open. Contact the Anchorage Womans Club at to find out about rentals.
Pioneer School House
