Sutton-Alpine in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

Spirit House

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 13, 2024

1. Spirit House Marker

Inscription.
This is the gravesite of John Goodlataw. Born in 1870 in Chitina, Goodlataw was Ahtna. In 1920, he settled in Chickaloon and worked at various jobs around this area. He passed away in 1935. The custom of raising Spirit Houses above the grave of a deceased relative comes from the mixing of Athabascan and Russian Orthodox beliefs. Relatives must wait at least 40 days after death before erecting a Spirit House. An Athabascan must be buried with his/her head upriver and a blanket is placed on top of the grave, under the Spirit House, to keep the person warm. A family may use specific colors for their Spirit Houses to identify their clan. The tradition of using a Spirit House has been passed down from generation to generation and remains a practice today. Six more Spirit Houses are located an eighth of a mile west of here along the Glenn Highway.

Erected by Alpine Historical Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1935.

Location. 61° 42.627′ N, 148° 52.505′ W.

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Marker is in Sutton-Alpine, Alaska, in Matanuska-Susitna Borough. It can be reached from Glenn Highway. Marker and house are in Alpine Historical Park, off Glenn Highway (Alaska Hwy 1) at Milepost 61.6. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11266 Chickaloon Way, Sutton AK 99674, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Alaska Railroad Corridor,

in the Athabascan Region,

in the Mat-Su Valley,

and in Southcentral Alaska.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Petrified Wood (a few steps from this marker); Wall Tent (within shouting distance of this marker); Nay'dini'aa Na' Xay Hnax (within shouting distance of this marker); Wild Plants (within shouting distance of this marker); Katie Wade Memorial Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Hitchcock Cabin (within shouting distance of

Spirit House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 13, 2024

2. Spirit House and Marker

this marker); Lucas House (within shouting distance of this marker); Talkeetna Mountains (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sutton-Alpine.

Also see . . .
1. Eklutna Spirit Houses - The Blending of Two Beliefs. Living Alaska website entry (Submitted on September 1, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Alpine Historical Park. (Submitted on August 26, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Spirit House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 13, 2024

3. Spirit House

Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 178 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 26, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.