Hotel Captain Cook
Anchorage, Alaska
939 West 5th Ave, Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Original Property Opened in 1965
Historic Hotels of America member since 2016
- 2018 Historic Hotels of America® Awards of Excellence Winners
- The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Magnificent Gingerbread Displays List Is Announced
- The 2021 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Magnificent Gingerbread Displays List Announced
- The 2022 Historic Hotels of America Top 25 Most Magnificent Gingerbread Displays List Is Announced
- The 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Magnificent Art Collections List Is Announced
- The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Magnificent Gingerbread Displays List Is Announced
Upon arrival, guests and patrons alike are greeted by inviting and historical décor, illustrating the voyages of British explorer and cartographer Captain James Cook. Three of these major voyages took him around the southern tips of Africa and South America, to Easter Island and, on his final voyage, along Alaska’s majestic coastline. On these voyages, he and his crew documented the people, animals and flora and fauna that many had never seen before. In June of 1778, while looking for a northwest passage to Hudson Bay, he and his crew on the HMS Resolution dropped anchor in Turnagain Arm — within sight of the spot where the Hotel Captain Cook stands today. Captain James Cook helped define Alaska in the 18th century by mapping its jagged coastline for the first time. Since 1965, the Hotel Captain Cook has defined luxury in Alaska by offering an unparalleled level of elegance and comfort. The legendary sea captain and the hotel that bears his name share two great qualities: a love of nature and an indomitable Alaskan spirit.
Located in the heart of downtown Anchorage, Alaska’s Hotel Captain Cook is the perfect basecamp for adventure, offering the best cultural, retail and natural highlights just steps from the door of each luxurious room. Whether indulging in one of its four distinctive restaurants, shopping for gifts or unique souvenirs in its 12 shops or taking in the expansive views of neighboring Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains, there is something for everyone at the Hotel Captain Cook. A much sought-after experience for both the art enthusiast and the novice art lover, the Hotel Captain Cook offers walking tours of their expansive private art collection. Featuring paintings, drawings and sculptures of subjects like historical sailing ships, Indigenous people and depictions of the Captain’s excursions, guests will marvel at the adventures of Captain James Cook through the lens of a time long ago. In addition to the hotel’s architecture itself, unique art pieces like stained glass, paintings, woodwork and sculpture continue to tell this story with inspired detail. Pieces of the collection can be viewed in common areas and are also prominently featured in well-appointed dining spaces, lining pristine hallways and in other perceptible instances throughout the hotel.
Discover
- Discover the great historical heritage of the Hotel Captain Cook. Debuting in 1964, this historic hotel was named for Captain James Cook. Cook was an 18th-century British explorer who mapped Alaska’s coastline for the first time.
- Admire historic accommodations of the Hotel Captain Cook, originally built by Walter J. Hickel Sr., who served as the Governor of Alaska twice from 1966 to 1969 and 1990 to 1994.
- Marvel at the brilliant art collection inside the historic Hotel Captain Cook. Paying tribute to Captain James Cook’s legacy, as well as Alaska’s brilliant maritime heritage, the art ranges from paintings of Cook’s voyages across the Pacific to scale models of his various ships. There are even a few historical artifacts — such as a Polynesian tapa cloth and a Maori shield — that help showcase what the captain may have encountered amid his explorations.
- The hotel’s collection was proudly named in the2021 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Magnificent Art Collections
Explore
- Experience more than 35 miles of hiking and cross-country skiing trails at Kincaid Park, conveniently located just a short drive from downtown Anchorage and the Hotel Captain Cook.
- Witness Alaska’s natural wildlife at both the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Both attractions offer a way to get up close and personal with animals that are native to the region and are within a short driving distance.
- Enjoy a scenic drive along the Turnagain Arm along the Seward Highway, considered the gateway from Anchorage to the vast Kenai Peninsula and its array of activities like wildlife ocean cruises, helicopter glacier landings and world-class fishing charters.
- Journey to America’s northernmost rain forest in the Chugach National Park for dramatic scenery along the jagged coastline of Prince William Sound. Visitors can hike, fish and kayak along the over 5 million acres of lush landscape.
Experience
- Conveniently located near must-see attractions and venues like the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Alaska’s unique culture and history is only a few minutes away.
- Easily access Ted Stevens International Airport or Merrill Field to board a short flight to other Alaska destinations, like Fairbanks to witness the dancing Aurora Borealis, or to Katmai National Park for unmatched summer grizzly bear viewing.
- The hotels onsite concierge service is to assist guests in finding the Alaskan adventure that will make memories that will surely last a lifetime!
Taste
- Savor the taste of fresh-caught Alaska seafood and more, meticulously prepared by trained chefs in one of the in-hotel dining destinations.
- Enjoy the best in Alaska fine dining at the Crow’s Nest, located atop of Tower III of Hotel Captain Cook. In addition to its spectacular views of downtown Anchorage and the Chugach Mountains, the Crow’s Nest is renowned for its extensive wine selection and French-inspired cuisine. Bottom of Form
- Tucked away on the main level, Fletcher’s serves up Italian cuisine in a classic English-style pub. Pull up a stool at the bar for starters and a cocktail or be seated for full-service dining.
- Walk a few blocks and guests can find an array of delicious dining options offering some of the best in seafood and local flavor, as well as access a vibrant nightlife scene under the midnight sun.
FEATURED ACCOMMODATIONS
Featured Offers
Book the Best Available Rate at this property on HistoricHotels.org and receive a complimentary one-year family membership (a $30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Preferred Bed and Breakfast. Enjoy a daily 30 USD breakfast credit to the Pantry during your stay.
The Crow's Nest Enjoy a daily $30 breakfast credit to the Pantry during your stay. Enjoy complimentary WIFI, Athletic Club, and iPrefer Points with each stay.
Up to 30% savings to honor the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Preservation Month.
Stay more in order to save more! Receive up to 30% off best available rate with any accommodations for three nights or longer.
