Duke Russell of Spenard, making comics in Alaska.
In his next installment in a series of comic book autobiographies, artist and activist Duke Russell will focus on his year living in Akiak.
With a breadth of experiences, artist and activist Duke Russell carves out a series of autobiographical comics
While the first two editions cover Russell’s life before he reached Alaska, the next installment will focus on his year living in Akiak.
www.adn.com
December 18, 2024 at 3:43 AM
Duke Russell of Spenard, making comics in Alaska.
The Spenard Palm tree is back!
October 2, 2025 at 5:53 AM
The Spenard Palm tree is back!
December 29, 2024 at 1:39 AM
1956 children standing on Portage Lake ice, while wearing Spenard sweatshirts! Their father, Ken Parker, ran the first department store in Spenard, in a Quonset hut at Fireweed and Spenard. Their mother, Nancy, was the Spenard postmaster for a while. #alaskahistory #alaska
August 5, 2026 at 1:00 AM
1956 children standing on Portage Lake ice, while wearing Spenard sweatshirts! Their father, Ken Parker, ran the first department store in Spenard, in a Quonset hut at Fireweed and Spenard. Their mother, Nancy, was the Spenard postmaster for a while. #alaskahistory #alaska
Nintendo still recognizes the sovereignty of Spenard
June 8, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Nintendo still recognizes the sovereignty of Spenard
In 1952, first Anchorage-area Dairy Queen opened on Spenard Rd. They advertised the location as Deadmans Curve, which was Spenard between 36th & Minnesota, then infamous for crashes. Prompted by sad news of Anchorage's Dairy Queens suddenly closing. #alaskahistory #Alaska
July 3, 2026 at 5:49 PM
In 1952, first Anchorage-area Dairy Queen opened on Spenard Rd. They advertised the location as Deadmans Curve, which was Spenard between 36th & Minnesota, then infamous for crashes. Prompted by sad news of Anchorage's Dairy Queens suddenly closing. #alaskahistory #Alaska
Early 1980s "Spenard Beat" by Model Citizen featuring Anchorage's Spenard, with Bob Bennett on drums! This rare footage includes PJs, Thee Body Shop massage parlor (with Magic Carpet Ride sign), Gold Dust adult theater, and Space Station arcade. #alaskahistory #alaska #spenard
September 20, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Early 1980s "Spenard Beat" by Model Citizen featuring Anchorage's Spenard, with Bob Bennett on drums! This rare footage includes PJs, Thee Body Shop massage parlor (with Magic Carpet Ride sign), Gold Dust adult theater, and Space Station arcade. #alaskahistory #alaska #spenard
Circa 1930s? swimming at Lake Spenard in Anchorage. For several decades, Lake Spenard was Anchorage's foremost swimming destination, before public pools and other lakes were developed. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory
January 9, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Circa 1930s? swimming at Lake Spenard in Anchorage. For several decades, Lake Spenard was Anchorage's foremost swimming destination, before public pools and other lakes were developed. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory
Back in Alaska, a visit to Tommy’s Burger Stop is a must! Still the best burger I’ve ever had, 20 years on now!
December 26, 2024 at 10:54 PM
Back in Alaska, a visit to Tommy’s Burger Stop is a must! Still the best burger I’ve ever had, 20 years on now!
Had big fat flurries in Spenard this morning! #Unreasonable
October 1, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Had big fat flurries in Spenard this morning! #Unreasonable
guitar surgery time
(concert in Anchorage on the 20th with Spenard Song Circle!)
(concert in Anchorage on the 20th with Spenard Song Circle!)
February 9, 2026 at 11:53 PM
guitar surgery time
(concert in Anchorage on the 20th with Spenard Song Circle!)
(concert in Anchorage on the 20th with Spenard Song Circle!)
July 1956, swimming beach at Lake Spenard in Anchorage. How many of you know that Lake Spenard was once Anchorage's premier swimming spot? Of course, I've met many locals who don't know that there is a "Lake Spenard," only Lake Hood. Via Anchorage Museum. #alaskahistory #alaska
July 17, 2025 at 4:40 PM
July 1956, swimming beach at Lake Spenard in Anchorage. How many of you know that Lake Spenard was once Anchorage's premier swimming spot? Of course, I've met many locals who don't know that there is a "Lake Spenard," only Lake Hood. Via Anchorage Museum. #alaskahistory #alaska
That year the Millennium Falcon broke down in Spenard (where else).
January 3, 2025 at 4:58 AM
That year the Millennium Falcon broke down in Spenard (where else).
Chevron station at the intersection of Spenard Road and Fireweed Lane in 1957. Via Anchorage Museum #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory
August 5, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Chevron station at the intersection of Spenard Road and Fireweed Lane in 1957. Via Anchorage Museum #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory
Goodbye to Seward Was a wonderful getaway, beautiful wedding Back to Spenard!
May 26, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Goodbye to Seward Was a wonderful getaway, beautiful wedding Back to Spenard!
July 31, 1918, a group of young, stylish Anchorage men having a last swim at Lake Spenard before enlisting in the Army. #alaskahistory #Spenard #anchoragehistory
July 31, 2026 at 5:37 PM
July 31, 1918, a group of young, stylish Anchorage men having a last swim at Lake Spenard before enlisting in the Army. #alaskahistory #Spenard #anchoragehistory
Mid 1950s and 2024 Deadman's Curve on Spenard Road in Anchorage. This stretch of Spenard, named literally for the many accidents there, is between 36th and Minnesota. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory
November 13, 2024 at 7:01 PM
Mid 1950s and 2024 Deadman's Curve on Spenard Road in Anchorage. This stretch of Spenard, named literally for the many accidents there, is between 36th and Minnesota. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory
Happy Solstice from Spenard!!
December 21, 2024 at 7:33 PM
Happy Solstice from Spenard!!
Lakefront Hotel on Spenard-Lake Hood.
August 15, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Lakefront Hotel on Spenard-Lake Hood.
Anchorage city officials are preparing to open another 132 emergency winter homeless shelter beds at the Alex Hotel and Suites in Spenard.
Anchorage to open 132 more winter shelter beds for homeless at Spenard hotel
The Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday narrowly approved a $2.3 million contract with local firm MASH Property Management to run the additional shelter beds.
www.adn.com
November 27, 2024 at 3:52 AM
Anchorage city officials are preparing to open another 132 emergency winter homeless shelter beds at the Alex Hotel and Suites in Spenard.
November 8, 2025 at 9:19 PM
‘Sold Out’! Another amazing talk by @anchistorian.bsky.social on the history of #Spenard.
Chicanery, the 80’s stand-up boom, tax evasion and the low-energy thrill of endless free rides on the Caribou Dept. Store escalator: all this and more in Spenard, Ak.
Chicanery, the 80’s stand-up boom, tax evasion and the low-energy thrill of endless free rides on the Caribou Dept. Store escalator: all this and more in Spenard, Ak.
November 9, 2024 at 11:43 PM
‘Sold Out’! Another amazing talk by @anchistorian.bsky.social on the history of #Spenard.
Chicanery, the 80’s stand-up boom, tax evasion and the low-energy thrill of endless free rides on the Caribou Dept. Store escalator: all this and more in Spenard, Ak.
Chicanery, the 80’s stand-up boom, tax evasion and the low-energy thrill of endless free rides on the Caribou Dept. Store escalator: all this and more in Spenard, Ak.
Hear me out, Alaska novelists: I've always wanted someone to write a murder mystery series set in Spenard during the pipeline. The best detective authors excel at evoking the time and place their books are set in, and 1970s Spenard offers a lot to work with.
January 12, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Hear me out, Alaska novelists: I've always wanted someone to write a murder mystery series set in Spenard during the pipeline. The best detective authors excel at evoking the time and place their books are set in, and 1970s Spenard offers a lot to work with.
tomorrow i am helping to coordinate the Alaska Music Summit in Anchorage. it's the 3rd in three weeks. We're gonna pack this room with musicians, music teachers, bookers, presenters, arts administrators, and more tomorrow, and we're gonna preach solidarity.
February 7, 2026 at 8:18 AM
tomorrow i am helping to coordinate the Alaska Music Summit in Anchorage. it's the 3rd in three weeks. We're gonna pack this room with musicians, music teachers, bookers, presenters, arts administrators, and more tomorrow, and we're gonna preach solidarity.