Eklutna Village Historical Park

Eklutna Village Historical Park preserves one of the most remarkable cultural intersections in Alaska — a living testament to more than 800 years of Dena'ina Athabaskan heritage and the Russian Orthodox Christianity introduced here by missionaries in the early 1800s. The park sits 26 miles northeast of downtown Anchorage on the oldest continuously inhabited village site in Southcentral Alaska.

The cemetery is the heart of the park. More than 100 spirit houses — small, vividly painted wooden structures built over individual graves — stand in rows across the grounds. Each spirit house reflects the personality and clan affiliation of the deceased, its colors and patterns chosen by family members according to generations of tradition. These structures emerged from a blend of Dena'ina custom and Orthodox practice, and no two are exactly alike.

Rising at the center of the grounds is St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, built circa 1870 and recognized as the oldest standing building in the greater Anchorage area. The chapel retains original icons and furnishings, and guides — many connected to the Native Village of Eklutna — share oral histories that illuminate both the church's spiritual role and the layered cultural life it has witnessed.

Guided tours run seasonally from May through September, with typical availability Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission of approximately $10 for adults supports ongoing preservation of this sacred site. The cemetery remains an actively used burial ground; visitors are asked to treat the space with genuine reverence. Photography is permitted in most areas.

The park is located at the base of the Chugach Mountains just off the Glenn Highway, and a visit pairs naturally with a stop at nearby Eklutna Lake for hiking, kayaking, or camping.