Government Hill

Flush with local history, Government Hill is one of Anchorage’s original neighborhoods; a tight-knit community marked by historic landmarks, accessible parks, and plenty of unique city views.

Several places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a stroll through the Government Hill Federal Housing Historic District, an architectural time capsule where more modern designs sit alongside original houses and duplexes built between 1915 and 1950 to house government employees moving to Anchorage in the city’s early days. The nearby Wireless Station was the community’s first radio communications hub: Built by the Alaska Engineering Commission in 1917, the elevated location provided better radio reception than a temporary location first established in the railyard below.

Superior radio reception isn’t the only perk of the neighborhood’s location on the hill. Local parks offer city views you won’t find anywhere else, plus another dose of city history: Several Government Hill parks are named in honor of trailblazing Anchorage residents, and thoughtful memorials help preserve the memory of a few community-minded Alaskans.

Spend some time exploring to get a sense of Anchorage life in the city’s earlier days.