Seward depot. Date and photographer unknown
Photo courtesy of the John Combs collections

In 1923, President Harding arrived in Seward on his way to the "driving of the spike" ceremony in Nenana. The building was moved from its original site on the east side of Seward to its current location at 501 Railway Avenue in 1928, where it continued to serve as a railroad depot until the 1964 earthquake. While the building remained in tact, the tracks fell into the bay. Afterwards, the depot served as the Alaska Marine Ferry Terminal until the mid 1990's. The railroad depot is a principle architectural element in the historic Seward town site and has served a key role in the city of Seward's historic status as the "Gateway to Alaska." The building is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. In 1996, the depot was on the Alaska Association for Historic Preservation's "Ten Most Endangered List." Now, after the million dollar plus restoration, it is once again a highlight of Seward. -- Information provided by the Chugach Heritage Center