Passport to the Paranormal, by Rich Newman

2 • Alaska The Historic Anchorage Hotel Anchorage, Alaska https://www.historicanchoragehotel.com/ The best ghost stories are always steeped in history. And what’s better than a ghost who seemingly returns each year on the anniversary of his death? Such is the case with the Historic Anchorage Hotel and the spirit of one Jack Sturgus, who was shot in the back and killed just a few feet from the door of the hotel. At the time, Jack (known as Black Jack to his friends) was in charge of the local police, and most believe his spirit is still looking for his killer.

Considering this hotel first opened its doors in 1916, long before Alaska was even a state (that didn’t happen until 1959), it has certainly survived harder times than the murder of the city’s police chief. In fact, when the hotel was being built, the town of Anchorage was barely more than a tent city that was in service to the local railroad system. But as the town grew, so did the Anchorage Hotel, and a new section was added on in 1936. It would be in 1964, though, when the biggest disaster would strike.

On Friday, March 27 of that year (Good Friday no less), a 9.2 megathrust earthquake struck. Lasting more than four and a half minutes, it is still the most powerful earthquake recorded in North American history. Massive fissures opened in Alaska, including in Anchorage, swallowing up buildings and collapsing structures across the state. It’s estimated that approximately one hundred thirty people died during the quake, and most of the downtown area was destroyed. But through all of this, the Anchorage Hotel survived.

Over the years, there have been changes to the hotel, though. The name has been shuffled around, the original part of the hotel was torn down, and 7