An outpost for American forces during World War II, the
Margaret Bay site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1985. In May of 1993, it made
history of another sort when its new landmark hotel - the first of its kind in the
Aleutian
Archipelago - opened its doors to adventure-seeking travelers.
The Grand Aleutian was the brainchild of former UniSea, Inc. President Dick Pace. His vision
evolved into a striking red-roofed, three-story reality built through the combined efforts and
cooperative spirit of the architect, contractors, and Unalaska community.
It was a bold step to build a 112-room hotel "in the bush," and the Grand Aleutian's exterior
makes a bold statement. Sympathetic to the native architecture, the hotel's driftwood-hued wood
siding meshes with the local landscape. The contrasting roof echoes the peaks of the Aleutian
range; the roof's dormers give the hotel its inviting lodge appearance.
Inside the hotel, a dramatic three-story lobby greets hotel guests with a massive stone
fireplace and larger-than-life "fiber mural" by renowned artist Nancy Taylor Stonington.
Winding past the fireplace, the main staircase leads to the intimate
second-floor lobby where comfortable chairs and a roaring fire invite guests to
relax with a good book.
The UniSea Inn was built in the late 1970's on a site that was commissioned in 1942 as the Iliuliuk Submarine Base. The base was part of the World War II build-up that took place during the Aleutian Campaign. The first submarines assigned to the base were S-Boats and later fleet subs.