About this property
The Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears were the two military installations built next to each other in Dutch Harbor, on Amaknak Island of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, by the United States in response to the growing war threat with Imperial Japan during World War II. In 1938, the Navy Board recommended the construction which began in July 1940. The first United States Army troops arrived in June 1941 and an air base constructed by the United States Navy was finished in September 1941. At the time of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, these were the only military installations in the Aleutian Islands. On June 3–4, 1942, the two bases were bombed by Japanese planes operating from two aircraft carriers in a two-day event known as the Battle of Dutch Harbor, marking the first enemy aircraft strike on the American continent in history.
Location
Federal Designation
The National Register of Historic Places, administered by the National Park Service, is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical, architectural, archaeological, engineering, or cultural significance. Listing on the National Register recognizes a property's importance to American history but does not place restrictions on private owners; it does, however, make properties eligible for federal historic preservation tax incentives and enables consideration in federal planning decisions. National Historic Landmark designation, the highest level of federal recognition, is reserved for properties that possess exceptional national significance in the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture of the United States. This property is recorded in the National Register under reference number 85002733. It was listed on February 4, 1985.
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Nearby Historic Sites
Questions about this property
When was Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, U.S. Army listed on the National Register?
Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, U.S. Army was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 4, 1985.
What type of historic resource is Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, U.S. Army?
Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, U.S. Army is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.
Is Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, U.S. Army a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, U.S. Army has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.
What is the period of significance for Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, U.S. Army?
The period of significance for Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, U.S. Army is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1938.
Can I research the history near Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, U.S. Army?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, U.S. Army will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, U.S. Army will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.