I didn't know it at the time, but this unusual structure, with a facade of 8800 pieces of driftwood, is reputedly the most photographed building in Alaska.
It sits on a corner of Skagway's main street, Broadway, which is, as one might expect, bustling with tourists.
See what I mean?
But what caught my interest, as I was snapping photos like the rest of the tourist hordes, was a couple perched in front of the building, sitting there like stoic guardians at the gate.
They were there the entire time of my visit, just watching the passing ebb and flow of cruisers.
In spite of the fact that they're clutching souvenir tote bags from a cruise ship line themselves, it's my belief that they're a native couple who live in the area and enjoy watching the tourists as a form of entertainment. At least the lady looks relatively entertained; I'm not so sure about her friend.
I wonder if they're the most photographed couple in Alaska.
Or if anyone else even noticed them.
***
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Postscript FYI:
The facade was nailed together in 1900 by lodge members and is a prime example of Victorian Rustic Architecture. It underwent a restoration in the winter of 2004-2005 where all 8883 pieces of driftwood were removed. Forty percent had rotted and were replaced while the remaining 60% were nailed back on.
What a cute building! I wonder who collected all the drift wood - what sort of party were they at when they decided "hey, let's stick these sticks on a building".....
ReplyDeleteSaj,
DeleteNot much to do there, other than pan for gold, back in the day.
Or maybe it came about like that leaving locks on a bridge phenomenon in Paris our brO posted about on his blog. One person does it and all the rest of the sheep come bleating forth wanting to do the same thing. Beh.
Very unique building, can't help but notice it, the couple seem to be enjoying some people watching. Maybe after the cruise ships that's the second most popular form of entertainment?
ReplyDeleteGillian,
DeleteYes, I bet the natives of Alaska do enjoy the modern-day invaders engaged in the contemporary form of hunting and gathering.
Interesting facade. I wonder how long it took for someone to do that... And I wonder what kind of "rituals" they perform inside - like a Masonic Temple maybe... And the two "guardians" are definitely not happy campers... They do look native to the area though... Alaskans cruising Alaska :) Glad you're enjoying your trip!
ReplyDeleteLove your new look btw - new header, new color?
Mystic,
DeleteNot sure how long it took to find all the pieces and put it all together, but it was repaired over the span of a winter in 2004-5, so that might be some indication. There were 11 original members of the lodge, and they all pitched in to work on it together. You can find a brief description of what purpose the lodges served by the following the link I provided under the first picture.
Thanks for noticing the new look here! I replaced the photo-header with the title only to streamline the look and the loading time. Glad you like it.
And I thought that I had seen driftwood before. Makes me want to view The Gold Rush (Chaplin) again.
ReplyDeleteDCW,
DeleteNot only have you seen driftwood, but you've seen turtles. Doesn't this couple remind you of a pair of turtles sitting like bumps on a log...or piece of driftwood? I don't recall ever having seen Chaplin's Gold Rush. Crazy times. I'd like to read about the women who went north into these mining towns. They were called "soiled doves."
Very cool building!!
ReplyDeleteI wrote about a dozen takes on the "couple" but they all turned out rather rude or sarcastic . so I guess the nicest thing I can say is, I think they just wish they were home.
Gwen,
DeleteNow don't you go getting any ideas for constructing or reconstructing a new building in St. Martins!
Such an odd couple, aren't they, but seemingly perfectly matched.
Sticky situation
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
DeleteYes, but those involved had an attitude of real stick-to-itiveness.
Great stuff. Maybe I could do the same on the facade of our house. Then we could sit on the front porch and be stoic ourselves while tourist buses cruise down to the Hopewell Rocks! I live these 2 guys...
ReplyDeleteGros Pit,
DeleteBeats shingling! We'll have to get a truck seat for the front porch, though, to give it more of an authentic Albert County feel. I think we've got the stoic part down pat already. At least I have.
I think they must have spotted you taking their picture and you forgot to say,
ReplyDelete"Cheese".
Shirl,
DeleteYou could be right--only in Alaska they say "pemmican" instead of "cheese."
What a bizarre place, Alaska!!! You've certainly captured the oddities & oddballs! (By the way, what town are we in here??)
ReplyDeletejann,
DeleteGee, I hope I'm not misrepresenting Alaska with my own skewed vision. I mean, I was on the lookout for the "real" Alaska rather than the merely touristic, and not about to head off into the wilds, so I had to make do with what grabbed my attention. And we're in Skagway! Thanks for pointing out that omission--I've since rectified it for other confused wayfarers.
Love this building....but I so enjoy the thoughts on the couple seated outside...I noticed them right off when I came to the second photo and wondered about them....only to scroll down and get a story!!!
ReplyDeleteDanielle,
DeleteI could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the building...and then when I saw that strange couple sitting there. It was only in photographing the building that I really noticed them. They do set one's imagination reeling.
Wonderful architecture indeed. Must be great during winter time. Am still enjoying much this journey. Yes, tourists are a bit like drift wood indeed. Sometimes I dress up as one as well. Please have you all a good Sunday ahead.
ReplyDeleteRobert,
DeleteIt never occurred to me to picture the place in winter time, but it must be quite a sight--very surrealistic I would imagine. I love your comparison of tourists to driftwood, especially those who wash up onto foreign shores from cruise ships.
It's refreshing to play tourist in one's own town sometimes. When we have visitors we take them round to the tourist sites that we never ordinarily visit ourselves. In fact, visitors are arriving this Sunday--so it certainly does look like a good week of Sundays ahead.
It is a beautiful building. That explains why everyone fotografie
ReplyDeleteGreetings
http://ventanadefoto.blogspot.com.es/
Ventana de Foto,
DeleteThe people of Skagway, I'm sure, would be very pleased to find that this building is appreciated for its beauty as far away as Espagne. Thank you for visiting.
Skagway... what a name !
ReplyDeleteAnd for a house made out of driftwood, maybe this tune could do...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkm3UOhGN-A
Otherwise, rarely has a grumpier looking couple ever been seen anywhere. They brought to mind a gentleman I saw in Philadelphia once a long time, who grace the pages of my blog back in the very early days long before comments started coming along... so not sure you would have seen this...
http://magiclanternshowen.blogspot.fr/2008/10/escher-designed-hats.html
Bisoux...
BrOwen,
DeleteAh, that tune did very well...the perfect lullabye for sending me drifting happily off to a bluesy Dreamland.
I wonder, really, what any one of us would look like, photographed unawares, without time to arrange our face into a pleasant demeanour. Let's say we painted some lines on that man's face and decked him out in a feathered head-dress, put a peace pipe in his hands rather than a tote bag, and clad him in deerskin and furs...would he then appear noble and imposing to our eyes?
That Escher-designed hat you captured...I think it could well come back into style with the hipster dudes of today. Though a smile on the face beneath it could certainly have given it more sex appeal (in the vein of "you can leave your hat on").
;-)
You never fail to bring a smile to light the night here...
DeleteBrO,
Deleteone small, faltering little beacon of hope and humour shining through the vast darkness of distance and time...looking for an answering glimmer from a lantern on the far horizon...
Well, sadly I have never been to Alaska (yet) but your photos are compelling. The building is fascinating with most unusual architecture. The couple? Tourists, perhaps, but not appearing to be very happy!
ReplyDeleteI have been gone all of October but trying to get back to my friends. Love this Alaska tour!
bises,
Genie
Genie,
DeleteBased on my personal experience, one just never knows when one might suddenly go to Alaska so don't give up on it!
I've been traipsing after you, down the streets of Paris, not always having enough breath to say "bonjour" but it's lovely to catch up now.
Bisoux,
Lynne
Did you touch them? I think the couple might be made out of driftwood, also. Fun pics. I'm certain you enjoyed your visit.. as did I through you photos.
ReplyDeleteHilary,
DeleteWell, I did briefly wonder if they might be a post-modern version of the wooden Indian figure that used to be posed outside of cigar stores (in fact I have a photo of one on hand!). But I certainly didn't go up and poke them to find out! Or maybe they were the Alaskan equivalent of those "statues" that one sees in European countries that stand stock still until someone tosses a coin in their vicinity and then they suddenly come to life and do some clockwork type moves. Dang. I guess I'll never know now. Visit aint over yet, Hilary...
Are you sure that they are not made of 8800 pieces of driftwood too - members of the Arctic Brotherhood perhaps (what is this organisation all about??) did their expressions ever change?? Lovely post and a wonderfully captured couple!! Greetings from Nice.....
ReplyDeleteCatherine,
DeleteI'm not entirely sure that the couple wasn't made from 8800 pieces of driftwood, but their heads did swivel from time to time on their necks, which was the only change of expression that I noticed from them. The Arctic Brotherhood helped each other out in times of hardship, I believe. Lots of hardships for the miners that were flooding in for the goldrush.
Thought I made a comment here....obviously not!!
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was - are these people real? They look very like sculptures!
Ruby,
DeleteThey really do! If they'd been sitting outside a wax museum, I would definitely have had to look twice. I'm glad you came back for a second look.
I don't know what's more interesting, the building or the couple! What a couple of characters these two! They fit in perfectly with the rustic facade of the building behind them! :)
ReplyDeleteBella,
DeleteI know! I was so taken with the unusual building, until I caught sight of the strange couple sitting out front, and then the picture-taking became all about them. I seriously wonder if they do live in the town and come there daily for entertainment. If they do, they should charge tourists a fee to take their pictures (but I'm glad they didn't).
Fascinating and unusual place - I had never heard of it. I'm glad they restored it!
ReplyDeleteThe couple... do you think EITHER of them look entertained? well, okay then :) I think they look as if they might have MISSED their cruise ship and are waiting for the next :)
I haven't been checking posts lately so I will look through your other posts, and commnent on them too.
Jenny,
DeleteNice to see you catching up with the cruise.
That couple certainly didn't look entertained but they did sit there for a considerable amount of time. Maybe they were tuckered out and not looking forward to the walk back to the ship; or to their room at the retirement residence, or wherever. Many stories to imagine about the pair.
Driftwood AND an interesting older couple - doesn't get much better!
ReplyDeleteDriftwood,
DeletePerhaps the only improvement would be if they were munching on chocolate Turtles?