Artifact of the Month: April 2021

Arthur Yates Memorial Hospital

The National Trust for Historic Preservation selected the Arthur Yates Memorial Hospital as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2020. The program helps draw attention to sites that are threatened by everything from neglect, insufficient funding, inappropriate developing, and natural disasters. The iconic building, located on Mission Street, is suffering from a failing roof, foundations, and interior deterioration. For many years, Historic Ketchikan has been raising funds to make necessary repairs to stabilize the building.

Built in 1905 as a clergy house for the Episcopal Mission, the building was re-purposed in 1909 to serve as a 12-bed hospital during the boom years of Ketchikan's growth (left photo, circa 1911). Increased demand for medical care resulted in the construction of a larger facility located nearby, leaving the Yates building vacant for many years. Emery Tobin, founder of the Alaska Sportsman magazine (now Alaska Magazine) based the magazine and a curio shop out of the building from 1941 to 1966 (middle photo). Beginning in 1968, the Chamber of Commerce occupied the building for a decade (right photo). In the 1980s and 90s, the Episcopal Church operated a Seaman's Center to help assist seafarers visiting Ketchikan. In its latest iteration, Historic Ketchikan hopes to create displays to share the remarkable history of the building with locals and visitors alike.

The greater Ketchikan area boasts the largest number of historic properties of any community in Alaska. The success of historic preservation depends upon the involvement and commitment of local citizens, government, and preservationists. If you would like more information on how you can help, contact Historic Ketchikan at (907) 225-5515.

To learn more about historic preservation efforts in Ketchikan, watch the video below from our Museum Midday program as we celebrate National Historical Preservation Month in May. Featured speakers include Stephen Reeve of Historic Ketchikan, and Amanda Welsh and Tim Whiteley of Welsh Whiteley Architects LLC.

Photo credits (L-R):
Ketchikan Museums: Harriet Elizabeth Hunt image, Tongass Historical Society Collection, THS 62.4.3.45
Ketchikan Museums: Frank Morgan image, KM 2009.2.7.21
Ketchikan Museums: Virginia McGillvray image, Tongass Historical Society Collection, THS 80.2.9.14