Lynch & Kennedy

The Lynch & Kennedy building once served as military barracks for the Buffalo Soldiers of Company L.

NPS Photo/A. Rogers

Quick Facts

Location:

Skagway, AK

Significance:

Military barracks built in 1900. The first company to stay in the barracks was Company L of the 24th Infantry, a unit of Buffalo Soldiers stationed in Skagway/Dyea from 1899-1902.

Designation:

NHP and part of an NHL

Amenities

1 listed

Accessible Sites

Beneath the intricate facade of the Lynch & Kennedy sits the original barracks of Company L of the 24th Infantry, a company of 112 Buffalo Soldiers stationed here in Skagway during the gold rush. The Buffalo Soldiers were segregated regiments of Black soldiers established after the Civil War. These regiments served in the western United States and abroad. Company L’s mission here in Skagway was to “show the flag” at the border with Canada and protect people and property in this frontier town. They served here in Skagway from 1899 until 1902.  

After the troops left, the barracks stood vacant for a few years. In 1908, the building was moved from its location on 6th Ave to where it stands on Broadway today. It was remodeled with a new false front to make up the Pack Train Inn, the Trail Saloon, and the Lynch and Kennedy building. A walk to the rear of these buildings will reveal that the original barracks can still be seen behind the false fronts, despite the massive remodeling effort. Haberdashers Henry J. Lynch and James F. Kennedy rented the former barracks building and opened their Haberdashery and Dry Goods store in September 1908. This building is preserved in its 1908 aesthetic.