Van Gilder Hotel -Seward, AK

Step back into the rugged past of Alaska’s frontier at The Van Gilder Hotel, a nearly century-old Seward landmark where history and mystery share the same creaky floors. Built at the height of early Alaskan development, this atmospheric hotel has become a magnet for travelers who love historic charm and the thrill of whispered ghost stories. From sightings of a vanished visitor to unexplained footsteps and flickering lights, the Van Gilder offers a stay where the lines between past and present sometimes blur.

Brief Hotel History

• The Van Gilder Hotel was constructed in 1916, originally as one of Seward’s earliest reinforced-concrete buildings.

• Initially, it housed offices, meeting halls, and even local organizations before being converted into a hotel in 1921.

• Over the years it served multiple civic purposes — from legal offices to newspaper headquarters to apartments — before settling into its role as a historic hotel.

• In 1923, the hotel even hosted prominent guests during President Warren G. Harding’s visit to drive the final gold spike for Alaska’s railroad.

• The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, preserving its architecture and stories for future generations.

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👻 Haunted Hot Spots & Paranormal Activity Reported

The Van Gilder Hotel’s haunted reputation centers on the tragic story of Fannie Guthery-Baehm, as well as myriad odd phenomena reported by guests and staff over decades:

Fannie Guthery-Baehm’s Ghost

• In 1947, Fannie Guthery-Baehm was shot and killed by her husband while they were staying at the hotel; accounts vary about her exact room (often 202 or 208).

• Her spirit is said to linger, especially on the second floor near the scene of her death, where guests have reported unexplained footsteps, heavy sounds, and phantom reenactments of that fateful night.

• Descriptions commonly depict a tall, blonde woman in a blue 1940s dress roaming hallways or appearing in rooms.

👻 Other Paranormal Reports (Anecdotal)

• Guests have reported objects seemingly moving of their own accord and lights flickering for no clear reason.

• Staff and visitors occasionally describe the sensation of being watched, or unexplained footsteps in empty hallways.

• A few recent social posts recount people sensing a presence around a haunted painting in the hotel lobby that people say gives them “the creeps.”

Most Haunted Rooms or Areas to Request

Paranormal enthusiasts often focus on the second floor — especially the rooms tied to Fannie’s story:

1. Room 202 — Frequently cited as the site of Fannie’s murder and the epicenter of sightings.

2. Room 208 — Also linked in guest lore as where the tragic event took place.

3. Second-Floor Hallways — Many reported footsteps and eerie sensations occur outside haunted rooms.

4. Lobby Area / Haunted Painting — Some visitors report chills or uneasy feelings near a particular historic artwork.

Recent Guest Reviews

Standalone haunted experiences aren’t abundant on mainstream travel sites, but guests do note the hotel’s eerie ambiance and ghost stories:

• One TripAdvisor reviewer flatly states: “It’s very haunted!” while noting the hotel’s age and original period decor.

• On Seward and Alaska tourism news, local coverage of the hotel’s history highlights Fannie’s tragic death and the belief that she “still shows up from time to time,” giving some travelers the thrill of a potentially haunted night.

• In online travel threads (e.g., Alaska forums), ghost-enthusiasts discuss their interest in staying at the Van Gilder specifically to seek out paranormal experiences.

👻 Ghost Rating

Ghost Rating: 9.2 / 10 — A named spirit tied to a real 1947 tragedy, multiple sightings and sensory reports, and decades of ghost lore make this one of Alaska’s most intriguing haunted hotels.

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