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In our first episode, we look at the life of William King Lear (1832 - 1915). He is best known as the man who owned Fort Wrangel during a gold rush. He defended his claim to own Fort Wrangel for decades, during which time he shaped the Wrangell we know today. (Published Sep 2, 2020)

 
 
 
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This map shows Fort Wrangel sometime around the 1880s-1890s. Below the large words “WRANGELL” is clearly visible the label: Trading Post of Wm. K. Lear.

When Lear arrived in 1868, the main geographic feature was the large, sprawling Tlingit village inside the bay. At that time, the army fort was very new and still under construction. By the time Lear left in 1903, Fort Wrangel had officially become the City of Wrangell.

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In June 2020, on a hot summer day, I visited the last resting place of William King Lear in Steilacoom, Washington. He is buried at the base of an oak tree, surrounded by pines. I couldn’t have found him without the help of volunteers from the Grave Concerns Association who happened to be there that day, laying headstones for the first time on nameless graves.