Bootleggers Cove (alternately called "Bootlegger Cove", "Bootleggers' Cove", and "Bootlegger's Cove") is an area of
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage () is the largest city in the U.S. state of Alaska by population. With a population of 291,247 in 2020, it contains nearly 40% of the state's population. The Anchorage metropolitan area, which includes Anchorage and the neighboring Ma ...
, just west of
Downtown Anchorage
Downtown Anchorage is a neighborhood in the U.S. city of Anchorage, Alaska. Considered the central business district of Anchorage, Downtown has many office buildings, cultural points of interest, shopping areas, as well as dining and nightlife at ...
and north of the
South Addition
South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz ...
. Its exact boundaries are controversial. It is served by Inlet View Elementary School, Romig Junior High and
West Anchorage High School
West Anchorage High School (formerly Anchorage High School) is a public high school in Anchorage, Alaska. The school is part of the Anchorage School District (ASD). Opened in 1953, West is the oldest of ASD's eight major high schools. Serving the ...
. Its scenic features include Elderberry Park, the Oscar Anderson House, the Westchester Lagoon, and access to the
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is an trail along the coast of Anchorage, Alaska designated for non-motorized use. The trail runs from Second Avenue in downtown Anchorage and finishes in Kincaid Park. The trail is entirely paved, supports two-wa ...
and the
Lainie Fleischer Bike Trail Lainie is a given name. Notable people with the name include:
*Lainie Kazan (born 1940), American actor
*Lainie Strouse (Jordan) American & European actor, producer, singer, model
*Lainie Frasier, American film, television and video-game actor
*Lai ...
. It is located near the tidal flats of
Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet ( tfn, Tikahtnu; Sugpiaq: ''Cungaaciq'') stretches from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage in south-central Alaska. Cook Inlet branches into the Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm at its northern end, almost surrounding Anchorage. On its sou ...
. The
Alaska Railroad
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
passes between the residential zones of Bootleggers Cove and the tidal flats. Bootlegger's Cove was affected by the
1964 Alaska earthquake
The 1964 Alaskan earthquake, also known as the Great Alaskan earthquake and Good Friday earthquake, occurred at 5:36 PM AKST on Good Friday, March 27. . It is currently represented in the Alaska State Legislature by Representative
Les Gara
Leslie S. Gara (born February 6, 1963) is a Democratic former member of the Alaska House of Representatives, having represented the 23rd district from 2003 to 2019. Gara is also a former assistant attorney general and part owner of a local resta ...
and Senator
Johnny Ellis
Johnny Ellis (March 13, 1960 – February 9, 2022) was an American politician who served as a member of the Alaska Senate from 1992 to 2017. He was previously a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1986 through 1992.
Early life an ...
.
In 2003 Bootlegger Cove resident
Bethany Correira
Bethany ( grc-gre, Βηθανία,Murphy-O'Connor, 2008, p152/ref> Syriac: ܒܝܬ ܥܢܝܐ ''Bēṯ ʿAnyā'') or what is locally known as Al-Eizariya or al-Azariya ( ar, العيزرية, " laceof Lazarus"), is a Palestinian town in the West B ...
was kidnapped, and her body was later found abandoned by a roadside north of Anchorage. Her employer and landlord, Michael Lawson, was eventually convicted of her kidnapping and murder.
History
Many parts of Alaska had outlawed the sale, ownership, or use of alcohol, beginning in 1867 after the US Army took over custody of the new territory. Anchorage became a prime spot for smugglers trying to import alcoholic beverages after its choice as a railroad/shipping port was established in 1914. However, Anchorage had strict laws during the time of
Prohibition
Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic ...
, introduced by President
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...
, who wanted to protect the "morality and sobriety" of the new-found city. According to his plan, land was sectioned off in a grid pattern and auctioned to the people, but would be repossessed if anyone was caught breaking the ban against alcohol. Thereafter, an area along the coast near the Chester Creek outlet became a popular spot for bootleggers smuggling in alcohol, to bring their booty ashore, due to it being around a bend from Ship Creek and thus out of sight from authorities, earning it the name Bootleggers Cove.
[''Aunt Phil's Trunk: Bringing Alaska's history alive!'' by Laurel Bill, Phyllis Carlson -- Aunt Phil's Trunk LLC 2016]
External links
* http://www.muni.org/Departments/OCPD/Planning/Documents/Map_5_Northwest_Bowl.pdf
References
Municipality of Anchorage map#
#
Neighborhoods in Anchorage, Alaska
{{AnchorageAK-geo-stub