The Penney Building , in 1962 . This particular building was destroyed during the 1964 Alaska earthquake , one of the larger buildings in Anchorage to fall due to the shaking , as opposed to being due to landslides . A larger store was rebuilt on the same location , which later included a parking garage on an adjacent block connected by a skywalk . These structures and the later Northern Commercial Company department store ( which was purchased by Nordstrom several years after it was built ) , formed the foundation of the 5th Avenue Mall . The building currently features a Whaling Wall mural along its west wall
1964 Alaska earthquake
1964 Alaska earthquake
J. C. Penney Store (Anchorage, Alaska)