Tour the Home of Anchorage's First Mayor

If you are in town to explore Alaska and Anchorage history, one of the stops on your trip should be the Leopold David House. This was the home of Anchorage's first mayor, Leopold David. There is debate about whether David was born in Germany or New York. He was a soldier in the Spanish-American War and achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class. In 1904 he was sent to an area near the Yukon River near Eagle, Alaska. Here, he was a pharmacist's assistant, and then later moved to Seward, Alaska. In later years, he served as a United States Marshal, and then was appointed U.S. Commissioner. He studied law and as a hobby, managed to pass the Washington State Bar Exam. In 1915, David moved to a tent city near Ship Creek, and acquired the land at auction that would later become Anchorage. In 1917, he built his house on Second Avenue where it stands today as the Leopold David House. In 1920 the city was incorporated and the city council designated David as the mayor. Sixty-two years after Leopold's unexpected death, his home was placed on the National Register of Historical Places. The home is a popular tourist destination and many stay overnight to experience the full effect of Anchorage history.