The historical ecology of Alaskas North Slope is ever changing. Historical photographs and writings represent two
media for examining the interaction among native and foreign people with each other and with the arctic environs of
northwestern Alaska. These archival resources provide a rich record of the historical ecology of this area for the
late nineteenth century through the twentieth century. They illustrate the tremendous interplay among local and foreign
community members in their use of indigenous and introduced resources. The photographs and writings suggest that this
interplay was multi-directional and continues to influence the ecology of the region today.
Historical photographs and writings documenting house architecture are being used to examine the interaction among
Iņupiat and foreigners and the environment. The traditional Iņupiat winter house seen along the coastlines of the
North Slope consisted of a semi-subterranean dwelling. Such dwellings were constructed using driftwood, whale and
walrus bones, sod, and other locally-available resources. Near mid-nineteenth century, foreigner whalers began
arriving in increasing numbers. Their wrecked ships provided an early source of foreign building materials for
use in winter house construction. Local salvaging of wrecks yielded wooden ship members, lumber, doors, windows,
metal hardware, as well as sheet metal, ladders, and other useful items. Photographs and writings document the
use of salvaged shipwrecks shortly after mid-century. By the 1880s, whalers had established whaling stations in
several communities along the coast. Some of their houses incorporated both Iņupiat and foreign house design
elements and materials. The Iņupiat continued to construct houses reflecting this blended architecture
continued well into the twentieth century.
This study examines house architectural change along the northwest coast of the North Slope beginning in the
second half of the nineteenth century. It examines historical photographs and writings generated by foreign
visitors, including whalers, revenue service personnel, explorers, and archaeologists. The research serves to
document that the multi-cultural interplay among the various cultural populations and the environment resulted
in dwelling styles that are unique to the region and that reflect multi-cultural design elements and materials.
It challenges the assertion that western house designs and materials supplanted local designs and materials,
and that Iņupiat sought to acquire western houses. The construction of mixed Iņupiat-Western designs and
materials remained strong through much of the twentieth century and todays houses still bear witness to
this long cultural and environmental interaction.