The essence of Theresa and Dan Vick's new house is its inside diversity, between her culture with Native figurines, a totem pole, and his, with an electric guitar shaped like an assault rifle, and Norwegian memorabilia.

The almost 30-year-old family pole dominates the living room of the Vicks' new 1,100-square-foot home. Carved into red cedar is a king crab and halibut, with a worm hanging from its mouth.

"It hasn't been retouched," she said. "And we've had it since 1989."

Mrs. Vick said the decision to build a home on Unimak Street was sort of abrupt. They had lived in the house next do...