Discovery Saloon, historic place in Alaska, United States
The Discovery Saloon is a two-story wooden commercial building in Nome, Alaska, built in 1901 and located on First Avenue West. The small structure, measuring about 18 feet by 36 feet, originally featured a false front and two distinctive rounded bay windows on the upper floor, though modern aluminum siding now covers the original wood exterior.
Built in 1901, the saloon was one of forty-four drinking establishments in Nome during the height of the gold rush, operated by Max Gordon until 1912. Around 1940, the building transitioned from a social gathering place to a private residence, marking a significant shift in how the structure served the community.
The Discovery Saloon reflects the social life that defined Nome during the gold rush era, when miners and residents gathered here to unwind and play games. Its two-story wooden structure remains a physical reminder of how people spent their leisure time in those early frontier days.
The building is visible from the street along First Avenue West and can be visited on foot as part of a walk through Nome's historic district. Since it is now private property, visitors can view it from the outside to appreciate its distinctive wooden structure and remaining architectural details.
The Discovery Saloon remains the only building in Nome that still preserves its original false front, an architectural feature that has vanished from the rest of the town. This rare characteristic makes it a valuable testament to how commercial buildings typically appeared during the early gold rush period.
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