Lisa Murkowski: “the Erskine House in Kodiak, AK, which houses the Baranov Museum, is one of a very few Russian period structures…”

“the Erskine House in Kodiak, AK, which houses the Baranov Museum, is one of a very few Russian period structures remaining in the Western Hemisphere. It is of great historical significance not only for this reason, but also because it is the only surviving structure known to have been associated with both the Russian America Company and the Alaska Commercial Company, the pillars of Russian and early American administration of Alaska. The Erskine House/Baranov Museum is owned by the City of Kodiak and operated by the Kodiak Historical Society. It is a popular visitor attraction in Kodiak. Its collections include artifacts from the Russian American Company and the Alaska Commercial Company and also include Alaska Native, Russian and other cultural exhibits. I am told that the structure, although it has had many owners, maintains much of its original historic integrity. The Erskine House was designated a National Historic Landmark on June 2, 1962. Shortly thereafter the National Park Service initiated consideration of including this important property in the National Park System. On February 11, 2000, the Department of the Interior formally sought funds from Congress to study the possible inclusion of the Erskine House in the system. The Congress responded by earmarking $250,000 in fiscal year 2002 appropriations for he Erskine House, some of which could be used to conduct the study and the remainder for preservation and maintenance of the facility.”