Oscar Anderson House Museum

The feel

The museum is a one and one-half story bungalow at 420 M Street, next to Elderberry Park and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. It has four rooms downstairs and three upstairs, and it is said to be the first wood-framed home in Anchorage. It stood among one-room log cabins and tents in the early Ship Creek Townsite.

The 1915 building remains relatively unaltered. Inside, period wallpaper, paint and antiques fill the rooms, the result of a restoration by volunteers from 1978 through 1982. It opened in 1982 as Anchorage's only house museum, and visitors see it on a guided tour of about 1 hour.

What to expect

What it is

A historic house museum owned by the Municipality of Anchorage and managed by the Alaska Association for Historic Preservation. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Time

Guided tours last about 1 hour.

Crowds and best time

Groups larger than 8 should call the museum to arrange a visit.

Season and access

Open for a summer season, with reservations online at www.OscarAndersonHouseMuseum.org. The Swedish Christmas Open House has been a popular event for over 30 years.

Mingo says

Visit in summer, when the museum runs its tour season. Reserve online and call ahead to confirm current hours.

Before you go

• Reserve your tour online at www.OscarAndersonHouseMuseum.org.
• Call the museum at (907) 206-2284 or the association office at (907) 929-9870.
• Call ahead if your group is larger than 8.

Written October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.