Wrangell in Wrangell Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)
United States Post Office and Customs House
Wrangell Alaska
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, July 8, 2018
1. United States Post Office and Customs House Marker
The United States Post Office and Customs House is a rectangular structure 112' x 48', constructed in 1940-41 under the direction of the New Deal's Public Works Administration. The building was completed during the administration of President Franklin Roosevelt, with James Farley as the Postmaster General. The building is typical of the type of architecture utilized by the federal government during the Depression Era and pre- World War II period; it maintained classic symmetry and proportion and omitted even slightly ornate detail. Federal buildings using similar design and construction can be found in other communities in Alaska and in the other forty-nine states.
The building is located on the former site of Fort Wrangel, a military post constructed in 1870 by the U.S. Government and deactivated in 1877. Buildings from the Fort were used as offices for federal agencies. These were torn down to make room for the new Territorial federal building which is the United States Post Office and Customs House. The structure sits atop a grassy knoll overlooking the harbor and town and continues the record of
this page online
The first regular postal service was inaugurated from the United States to Alaska by the ship Constantine. Her owners, Hutchinson, Kohl & Co.. obtained a contract with the federal government to make a monthly trip from San Francisco to Alaska. There were ports of call at Port Townsend on Puget Sound, San Juan faiands, Tongass, Wrangel and Sitka. Our office was established as Fort Wrangel on October 6, 1869. The name was changed to "Wrangell" on February 19, 1902.
The Post Office has had twenty one postmasters serving this office since its beginning. One of the first torve was William King Lear, who came to Wrangel as a non-commissioned licor of the 3rd U.S. Artillery Later, when the army left Wrangel, he was appointed US. Customs Officer in 1873. He was 1 of 3 white men in Wringel prior to the Cassiar gold rush ara. He was also a trader and is described in the C.L. Andrews story Wrangell and the Gold of the Cassiar.a
S. Hall Young was the third postmaster and was appointed December 4, 1878. He came to Wrangel July 10, 1878 as a Presbyterian
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, July 8, 2018
2. United States Post Office and Customs House Marker
Marker is to the left of front doors.
Lew Williams was our 17th to serve and was appointed January 1, 1943. Later he became Secretary of State under Governor Ernest Gruining during Territorial days. He was the father of L.M. Williams Jr., editor and publisher of the Ketchikan Daily News at the present time.
During the years since 1869, this office was changed from 4th Class to Presidential Appointment on October 1, 1912: 3rd Class to 2nd Class on July 1, 1946; and 2nd Class to 1st Class in 1981.
In a search of the National Archives and Records Service in Washington D.C.. the following correspondence was discovered: "An examination of the correspondence relating to the nomination and appointment of Customs Officers in Record Group 66, General Records of the Department of the Treasury, shows that a Customs Office in Wrangel was established in 1869. In a letter dated February 9, 1869, the Collector of Customs for the
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, July 8, 2018
3. Mural in the lobby
"Old Town in Alaska" painted in 1943 by Austin Mecklem & Marianne Appel.
In the fall of 1983, the community was offered neighborhood delivery boxes for their mail, but the proposal was overwhelmingly defeated in favor of our present system. At special town meetings held to discuss this proposal, the majority of citizens preferred the social contact and ritual of "going to the post office".
In past years this building has housed the U.S. Post Office, U.S. Customs National Weather Bureau. US Forest Service, State of Alaska Court System and the City of Wrangell Police Department (occupying the former US Marshall's Office). The building is now being considered for National Historic Designation.
[Caption:]
US Army completed fort facility in 1868. Fort Wrangel during winter 1889. US post office on site of two story building on knoll in background of photo.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Communications. A significant historical year for this entry is 1940.
Location. 56° 28.343′ N, 132° 23.235′ W. Marker is in Wrangell, Alaska, in Wrangell Borough. It is on Federal Way, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 112 Federal Way, Wrangell AK 99929, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Alaska, in Tlingit and Haida & Tsimshian Region. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within walking distance of this marker: Patenaude/Grant Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line).
Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 31 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. 3. submitted on June 7, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
