How Portage, Alaska Became a Ghost Town

A once favorite stop on the Seward Highway.

Water color of Portage, by Alaska artist, Cindy Pendleton

The tiny coastal town of Portage, Alaska, was located about 47 miles southeast of Anchorage, Alaska, on the Seward Highway. It used to sit on the shore of Cook Inlet. More about that shortly.

Portage was an early transportation hub connecting the coastal areas with the interior of Alaska.

The port at Portage handled both cargo and passengers. There were also railroad facilities.

Although it’s difficult to imagine now, as a transportation hub, the town of Portage was a busy, community.

The Town of Portage, Circa 1960s

The photo above was taken by Bob Pendleton and appears here, courtesy of Alaskan Artist, Cindy Pendleton.

Before the 1964 earthquake, anyone traveling from Anchorage on the Seward Highway, toward the Kenai Peninsula, or traveling from the peninsula, was happy to stop in the town of Portage. You could gas up your car, have lunch or visit the bar.

Portage Glacier

In the photo above, is Mary of Alaska Stories.

Mike of Alaska Stories, recalls when he was about 11 years old, there was a sign in the Portage restaurant that read something like this:

“You can ask to have 1,000-year-old ice in your drink”

Apparently, once in a while, the owner of the restaurant and bar sent someone to nearby Portage glacier to chip off a block of glacier ice. The ice was then broken into smaller chunks and customers could enjoy having an actual miniature iceberg in their drink. Something to tell the folks about back home.

The Town of Portage, Alaska had a sense of Humor

In the photo above is a hand-painted sign that welcomed all to Portage, Alaska.

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Just share this edition of Alaska Stories. They’ll discover an Alaska “Ghost Forest”, a Ghost Town, and enjoy a good laugh about the sign above.

What Happened to the Town of Portage, Alaska?

On Good Friday, March 27, 1964, a 9.2 earthquake struck Alaska. It lasted for 5 minutes and was the biggest earthquake in U.S. history.

The powerful and horrifying quake shoved some sections of land up and caused others to suddenly sink. Incredible damage followed.

Portage, located on the shore of Cook Inlet, was hit hard.

Here’s a documented account of what happened when the earthquake struck:

“An eyewitness who was in a service station on the west side of the highway said he and a companion ran out the east door of the building as the concrete floor began to crack.

They got about three feet out of the building when a crack about three feet wide opened between them. He said that cracks formed about each of them, leaving each man on a small island about three feet wide that moved up and down. He said it was like riding an open elevator.

As he went down, the other man went up. And then they'd pass each other going in opposite directions. He said that the earth all around them broke into similar pieces and that as the blocks of frozen earth moved up and down, the cracks also opened and closed causing muddy water to spout as high as 50 feet. into the air.

He said after the shaking stopped, water filled the open cracks. He estimated the duration of the quake at about four to five minutes.”

Source: Chronology of Physical Events of the Alaskan Earthquake, 1966, Genie Chance papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Water from Cook Inlet flooded Portage

During the 1964 Alaska earthquake, the ground in the town of Portage sank about 6 feet. That put the town below the level of high tide in Cook Inlet.

The town soon became flooded with salt water and all the residents had to leave.

A Stark Reminder of the Powerful 1964, Alaska Earthquake

Over the years, the tides of Cook Inlet, weather and time have slowly destroyed what was left of the town of Portage, Alaska.

The Portage Ghost Forest

The sign in the picture above reads:

“This cabin is part of the original townsite of Portage that was destroyed in the 1964 earthquake”

Salt water from Cook Inlet, also killed all the trees around Portage, creating a “Ghost Forest”.

There is no word about what happened to the “11 friendly people and 1 old sorehead” that once lived in this truly Alaskan town.

But rest assured, that in the days, months, and years that followed, those 12 people had plenty of stories to tell about a unique place called Portage, Alaska.

From our North Stars (that’s you)

From our Sydney Laurence, Alaska Artist edition

This memory from Anonymous:

“A kind and wonderful lady lived by our family in Chugiak, and she had two Sydney Laurence paintings in her home. I would visit her and just marvel at those paintings and how majestic they were.”

Gregory and Linda Newton sent us this kind message:

“Thanks so much for this. I really enjoyed your feature on Sydney Laurence. Keep up the great work and stories!”

And Avril sent us this:

“Absolutely love this. I didn't know a lot about the artist at the time, but it's an incredible history and I learn something every time. Thank you so much.”

Diana made this comment:

“Excellent, as always!! Thank you for all you, two, do to commemorate the history of Alaska.”

And George sent along this info:

“I recently read a book about the history of mining on the Kenai Peninsula. The book mentioned Sydney Lawrence as being “knighted” by King Edward VII before Lawrence left Europe. It also mentioned that Lawrence tried his luck at mining on the peninsula.”

BONUS

Take a look at The Sydney Laurence Story and enjoy.

Connect with Mike and Mary

We miss getting 1,000-year-old glacier ice in our ice tea in the café in Portage.

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Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Alaska Stories