Fort William H. Seward Bed & Breakfast
Haines, Alaska

Tours go by hourly to see this B&B sitting atop the bay. The area shows why it was chosen to protect a young nation. This B&B served as the commander's quarters, as the head surgeon's quarters and housed young single lieutenants and the Tuesday Evening Socials at the fort. Now, it has become a historical B&B landmark and home for the night for Cruising America.

We arrived at Ft. William H. Seward B&B early and found our host, Norm, enjoying his favorite pasttime - fishing. Suzanne came downstairs and showed us to Room #1, which had been the parlor for the house in days gone by. She told us she had to return to work and to make ourselves at home.

Our room is at the foot of the stairs, overlooking the bay, and furnished with 2 queen beds, TV, fireplace, sofa and a chest of drawers. It had a coffee table, lamps and pictures of the home when it was part of the fort. In fact, all the houses on this street the WERE fort. The parade grounds were right in front of the home. The inn has 2 shared baths and showers downstairs. The kitchen was open and was the focal point for the guests, making it really feel like home.

Cindy started getting the email and I opened two weeks of snail mail that had arrived before us. Norm returned home shortly and had a 35-lb. halibut and the biggest smile. He asked if we needed anything and hurried off to clean his catch. Cindy took pictures while he did so and I finished the snail mail.

Norm suggested dinne at the Ft. Seward Lodge (just past the parade grounds) and we took him up on it. Boy were we glad! Cindy had steak and I finally got my Alaska oysters. So many, I again waddled back to the B&B! As we were ordering, the Norwegian Wind (a beautiful cruise ship), arrived in port just outside the window.

Upon arriving back at the B&B, I saw someone looking at the map on the Eagle. He worked on the cruise ship with the band. I explained Cruising America to him, gave him a card and then joined Cindy inside. We quickly drifted off to sleep.

The next morning we joined a group of mappers from Ducks Unlimited for breakfast. We had grapes, cantaloupe and orange slices, coffee and orange juice. Then Norm presented us with his blueberry pancakes and ham. Great start to the day!

Norm is a 40-year resident of Alaska and has been an innkeeper for 18 years. He will make your stay as good as ours was. As we departed, Norm gave us 2 bumper stickers with his world-famous slogans...his choice one being..."I've died and gone to Haines". Be sure to visit his website at Fort William H. Seward Bed & Breakfast and tell him we said HI!