Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church Interior Restoration
Juneau, AK
Pacific Preservation partnered with the Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska (ROSSIA) and the local Juneau parish in spring of 2025 to develop a plan for restoring the interior of one of Alaska’s oldest Russian Orthodox churches, dating 1893. We researched the original interiors of the church and compared historic photographs to evidence on site, including destructive investigations of wall coverings and a paint color analysis to determine the original finishes. Three restoration options were presented in a compiled report - ranging from most authentic to more modern - allowing the church to approach the project in phases based on their budget and parish needs.
The church in 1900 shortly after completion, the last remaining octagonal church of its kind in Alaska.
Present-day interiors include the original iconostasis imported from Russia, carpeted flooring, and brightly painted walls and ceilings.
Historic photographs of the interior ca. 1935 showcase a natural wood ceiling, decorative wallpaper walls, and sheet linoleum flooring. (Alaska State Library, Michael Z. Vinokouroff Photograph Collection, Winter & Pond, P243-2-033.)
On-site investigation revealed original layers of wallpaper behind contemporary fiberboard installed in the 1970s.
Paint failure on wood trim pieces indicated a natural wood stain below.
Paint chips were sent to a lab for color analysis to confirm the original trim finish was a natural wood stain, with multiple layers of warm whites and blues to follow.
Investigation of the carpeted floor confirmed that the original subfloor was a tongue and groove wood deck, never finished nor intended to be exposed.