Gone, but forever notorious:
Bars of Southeast Alaska
DOUGLAS
Mikes: 1935 – 2003. Owned by Mike Pusich and first known as the Dreamland, Mike’s was the most popular place
for dining and dancing in the area. The Island Pub, site of Mike’s, has a beautiful photo tribute on display.
HAINES
Club Saloon: Corner of Main Street and "Vogel Avenue," 1904 – 1917. A wild and crazy place in the pre-prohibition
years; owned by Tim Vogel, who was an original member of the “Soapy” Smith gang.
JUNEAU
Arctic Bar: 148 South Franklin, 1933 - 2014. Included in first edition of Notorious Bars of Alaska.
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Capital Beer Parlor aka Capital Lounge aka Capital Cafe: 123 Front Street, 1933 – 1947. A large dance floor and a big
round table for politicos were the attractions here.
Germania: 162 South Franklin, 1903 -1917. Famous for gambling and show girls.
Louvre: 241 Front Street, 1896 - 1916. Gambling, show girls and vaudeville could be found here.
Occidental Bar: 418 South Franklin, 1911 – 1915 and 1947 - 1975
Sweeney’s Corner Bar: 282 South Franklin, 1948 – 1972. Brothers Ed and Bill Sweeney and their families ran this
bar which had sawdust on the floor, a tradition that the Red Dog Saloon, which now occupies the site of
Sweeney’s, continues to this day.
KETCHIKAN
Alaska: 132 Mission Street and 316 Mission Street, 1934-2004. Featured a “Scopitone” (jukebox with videos)
in the 1960’s.
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Derby Room: 2200 Tongass Ave., 1953 - 2015. Included in the first edition of Notorious Bars of Alaska.
Fo’c’s’le: 312 Front Street, 1934-2003. Home to halibut fishermen and loggers, who drank and brawled here.
Now a jewelry store, which is apparently more profitable.
Frontier: 116 Front Street, 1953 – 1985. A beautiful wooden building with an old west saloon motif.
A live melodrama The Fish Pirate’s Daughter could be seen here in the 1970’s.
Mecca: Ward Cove, 1954 – 2013. Frequented by pulp mill workers.
Pioneer: 122 Front Street, 1912- 1917 and 1934 – 2003.
Shamrock: 217 Stedman Street, 1934 - 1983
SITKA
Columbia: 60 Lincoln Street, 1936-2011. Dancing to an actual orchestra was the draw here during the 40’s and 50’s.
Silver Foam Recreation Center aka Silver Foam Yacht Club: 201 Lincoln Street (now Old Harbor Books) 1939 -
1953. Walt Bacon, and later Harry Hagen, served not only booze but also milkshakes along with the gambling,
billiards, card tables, cigars and cigarettes.
SKAGWAY
Jeff Smith’s Parlor: 5/14/1898 – 7/8/1898. The lair of the notorious con man Jefferson “Soapy” Smith. Currently
being restored by the National Park Service.
Moe’s Frontier Saloon: Fourth and Broadway, 1937 – 2007. Malcolm and Mary Moe operated this classic bar that
sold t-shirts with upside-down letters that read “If you can read this please put me back on my barstool.”
Mascot (Mascotte) Saloon: 1898 – 1916. The site of an archaeological investigation conducted by the National Park
Service. The museum is a must-see when in Skagway.
Pack Train: Third and Broadway, 1897 – 1916 and 1938 – 1975. One of the very first saloons and restaurants in
Skagway, it moved three times to avoid being on the outskirts of town.
PETERSBURG
Brennan’s: “Big Jim” Brennan presided over his notorious “Bucket of Blood” saloon from 1910 – 1917 and then
again from 1934 – 1950.