Wrangell Hotel is one of the many forgotten but well-remembered hotels of Alaska. This news article will explain and examine the history of Wrangell Hotel. 
Wrangell Hotel evolved from a roadhouse which was built in 1896. What was once a roadhouse was then converted and renovated into a 4-story hotel. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=JN9QWiBSQ9oC&pg=PA362&lpg=PA362)
Wrangell Hotel was first established as “Fort Wrangell Hotel” in the fort and small town of Wrangell, Alaska. Fort Wrangell Hotel was located adjacent to a general merchandise store. Wrangell Hotel was situated on Wrangell Island. Cassiar miners were frequent guests and patrons of this hotel since Wrangell was headquarters for Cassiar miners since the boom of 1873. (Ref: https://search.nbca.unbc.ca/index.php/view-of-fort-wrangell-alaska)
Wrangell Hotel owned and operated by John F. Hamilton from 1901 to 1904. John F. Hamilton sold Wrangell Hotel to James H. Wheeler. James H. Wheeler owned and operated Wrangell Hotel for just a year. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=JN9QWiBSQ9oC&pg=PA362&lpg=PA362)
The Sylvester Estate owned the property where Wrangell Hotel was. The Sylvester Estate allowed the Fort Wrangell Hotel to operate their hotel on their estate the Sylvester estate from 1903-1905. James H. Wheeler decided to build his home there during that time. (Ref: http://www.sandyhershelman.com/JamesFrancesWheeler.pdf)
Tragedy struck in 1906 when nearly all of Front Street caught on fire. Low water pressure hindered firefighters despite their valiant efforts. The fire engulfed the entire hotel building and nothing was left afterwards. Wrangell Hotel was rebuilt in 1914 but this time only a heigh of 2 stories high/tall. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=jvUIiZVe61YC)
John G. Grant purchased Wrangell Hotel from James H. Wheeler in 1907. Wrangell Hotel would be owned and operated by John G. Grant from 1907 to the mid-1930s. John G. Grant sold and transferred Wrangell Hotel to his wife, Mary I. Grant. Mary I. Grant owned and operated Wrangell Hotel from the mid-1930 through the mid-1940s. During the mid-1940s is when Mary I. Grant sold and transferred Wrangell Hotel to her son, Neil Edward Grant. Neil Edward Grant operated Wrangell Hotel until 1952. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=JN9QWiBSQ9oC)
Some of the employees of Wrangell Hotel were Denningburg Henry, John G Grant, Mrs. E Linderman, Edward P Lynch, and Eleanor Lynch. Edward P Lynch was the clerk, Eleanor Lynch served as their waiter, and Mrs. E Linderman was the housekeeper responsible for janitorial services such as cleaning. John G Grant owned and operated Wrangell Hotel. He would later sell the hotel and become mayor of Wrangell around 1915. (Ref: http://akgenweb.com/AKWrangell/1915directorywrangell.htm) 
Neil Edward Grant served as manager for Wrangell Hotel. He was the hotel manager and previously was a shrimp canneryman. (Ref: Tewkesbury Who's Who In Alaska, 1947)
According to information from the 1915-1916 edition of the Alaska-Yukon Gazetteer and Business Directory, Wrangell Hotel had “the best accommodation in southeast Alaska, bar and billiard hall in connection”. So by that point during the early 20th century, Wrangell Hotel was a highly renown hotel for having the best accommodations in southeast Alaska. (Ref: 1915-16 Alaska-Yukon Gazetteer and Business Directory)
Wrangell Hotel had very comfortable electric lighting and steam heated rooms. The hotel had been providing good board. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=qpkdAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA313)
The nightly rates for Wrangell Hotel ranged from $1.50 a night to $3.50 a night. The highest price being $5 dollars a night per each day. Reasonable rates for hotels during that time period. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=shFQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA10&lpg=PA10&dq=%22Stikine+hotel%22se)
The Bank of Alaska was originally located in the Wrangell Hotel in 1916. The Bank of Alaska operated in the Wrangell Hotel until 1918 when a concrete building was constructed down the road.
A lively blaze of fire in the basement of Wrangell Hotel at dinner time on the Saturday of July 19, 1946. The blaze caused damage estimated at $20,000. Luckily firefighters were able to save the hotel from perishing into flames. (Ref: https://www.wrangellsentinel.com/story/2021/07/22/about-town/the-way-we-were/8954.html)
“ A lively blaze in the basement of Wrangell hotel last Saturday at dinner time caused a flurry of excitement among guests and did damage estimated at $20,000.”
The last building to collapse in the furnace fire of March 21, 1952 was the historic Wrangell Hotel. The furnace fire was ignited after the explosion of a furnace in the Wrangell Electric and Supply Company. So Neil Edward Grant decided to close down Wrangell Hotel after more than 50 years of business because of this loss. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=jvUIiZVe61YC)
The original address of Wrangell Hotel was 3 Front Street, Wrangell, Alaska, US 99929.
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