I believe in ghosts. I have no reason not to. I’ve never seen one, but I’ve heard enough spirity, ghosty stories in my life that the idea seems plausible enough. So while I’m not an adamant nut on the subject, I’m also not a hardened skeptic. With all this in mind, I embarked on the Ghost Tour of Anchorage yesterday evening.
For an hour and a half we walked around downtown Anchorage and learned about its seedy history. The murders and strange incidents were weird enough, but with a layer of ghostliness added on top, it was fairly creepy. One of the eeriest locations was in the ladies’ restroom in Tower 2 of the Hotel Captain Cook, where a woman had taken her life in the mid-70s. According to our guide, the stall where she had shot herself was violently haunted. So much so that it had been sealed from the inside by the hotel staff. Nevertheless, it seems to unfasten itself regularly.
We accidentally kicked the stall open. I don’t think that was supposed to happen.
We learned of ghosts haunting various theaters, alleyways, restaurants, and bars. There were ghosts of prominent Alaskans, ghosts of children, ghosts of people done wrong. I loved the guide, who was a gentlemanly old soul in a fantastic top hat and tails.
Ghosts!
Seth is such a skeptic.
Our tour ended at the Historic Anchorage Hotel, which is haunted by the ghosts of 32 souls (verified independently by two separate mediums). Alaskan artist Sidney Laurence haunts this location, and knocks his framed photo off of the fireplace mantle if people say unflattering things about him in the lobby.
Ingrid-the-ex-Exchange-Student poses with our Guide.
Back Inside 