Paint Analysis and Recommendations for Repainting: The Pantheon Salon (Bldg. 27d)

Pearson, Barbara

The objective of this paint analysis is to determine the earliest exterior painting scheme of the Pantheon Saloon (Bldg. 27D) located in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Skagway, Alaska, for the purpose of recommending historically accurate colors for repainting. Paint samples examined from the false front of Building 27D were observed to have more paint layers than samples from the storefront. The first finish layer in the storefront samples (orange and yellow) appeared to correspond with layer 5 in the false front samples, indicating that the earliest four layers were missing from the storefront chromochronology. While layer 5 in the false front samples did not exactly color match the orange and yellow first finish layers in the storefront samples, it is thought that this difference may be attributed to fading and weathering effects that the exposed false front, unlike the protected storefront,is subjected to. The absence of early paint layers from the storefront suggests that this area may have either remained unpainted for a period of time, been stripped of its early paint, or remodeled at some time after the false front was constructed. Absence of any dirt or sand on the wood substrate of the storefront samples suggests that the latter two possibilities are the most likely explanations. Given the historical information, together with the paint sample evidence, it seems safe to conclude that the existing false front dates to 1898, and the existing storefront to the 1903 or 1905- 1908 period. While it is noted that the storefront was also refitted with new windows in 1898, the number of paint layers seen in paint samples from the windows does not confirm this. Rather, the window paint samples appear similar to the other storefront samples. As for the exact date of storefront alteration, it does not seem feasible that it could have occurred in 1903 since this would mean that the false front had been painted approximately once every year for four years (1898-1903) to account for the early paint layers. Therefore, the later date, 1905-1908 is probably the date of alteration. One element of the false front is believed to be a relatively recent alteration (post 1905-1908) due to the absence of early paint layers and the unweathered appearance of the wood. This element is the upper cornice from which sample //5 was taken. It most likely replaced an earlier deteriorated cornice.

Paint Analysis and Recommendations for Repainting: The Pantheon Salon (Bldg. 27d)

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