The city of Juneau is only 135 years old. It doesn’t have many century-old traditions.
One of them returns tonight.
For the 100th time, the Governor’s Mansion will host a holiday open house for any and all Alaska residents who attend. It’s a chance to meet the governor and state commissioners, to see the people’s house lit in glorious fashion, and to participate in one of Juneau’s oldest events.
The Governor’s Mansion was built in 1912 and held its first open house in 1913, and it’s held an open house every year since — with the exception of two years during World War II. By our accounting, that makes this open house the 100th.
There should be something special for tonight’s event, but we understand why there isn’t — the state needs to save money, after all.
Instead, we’ll have to make do with just the ordinary extraordinary festivities. More than 25,000 cookies will be handed out with hundreds of pounds of fudge and gallons of hot apple cider.
A special thanks goes to Breeze-In for supplying the cookies and to those who will be serving them tonight.
Rain, snow or no, we’re looking for thousands of you to attend. Bundle up, and wear bright clothing — it’ll be dark as people line up along Calhoun Avenue between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
If you go, keep in mind that no matter how dark or damp conditions might be, you’ll be standing in line with a century of Alaskans before you.
