Sitka, Alaska

Mt. Edgecumbe near Sitka

Sitka is a historic and scenic community nestled between forested mountains and the great Pacific Ocean, on Baranof Island on the outer waters of Alaska’s Inside Passage. Sitka offers a combination of Native Alaskan and Russian heritage and the great Alaskan outdoors which will provide a diverse, unique experience.

Visitors to Sitka can enjoy many activities such as sightseeing around town, flightseeing by floatplane, cruise tours, as well as wildlife viewing, hiking, fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities. Sitka offers spectacular outdoor views especially of Mount Edgecumbe, a 976 meter extinct volcano that looks very similar to Mount Fuji in Japan.

Alaska Native Culture, Sitka

Alaska Native and Russian Heritage

Sitka’s past is a unique blend of Native Alaskan and Russian heritage. Sitka was originally settled by the native Tlingit (Kolosh) Indians. The Russians arrived in 1799. Old Sitka was founded in 1799 by Alexander Baranov , the governor of Russian America . Baranov arrived under the auspices of the Russian-American Company, a colonial trading company chartered by Tsar Paul I .

The Tlingit rebelled in 1802 and attacked and killed nearly all of the Russian colonists.

Alexander Baranov returned in 1804 and defeated the Tlingit in battle. After his victory Baranof fortified his town and expanded his fur trapping and trading. The fur-trade flourished and the Russian-American Company became the most profitable fur trader in the world. By the mid-1800’s, however, overhunting had diminished the number of sea otters, and thus the Russians’ interest in the new world. In 1867, the Russians sold Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million with a transfer ceremony that took place in Sitka on October 18 of that year.

Visitors can view many historic buildings in Sitka, and enjoy entertaining performances of dancers and musicians celebrating the Native Alaskan and Russian cultures.

St. Michael's Cathedral

Sitka National Historical Park

Sitka National Historical Park was established in 1910 to commemorate the 1804 Russian and Tlingit Battle. The indoor and outdoor collection of totem poles are fine representations of traditional Alaska Native art. Housed in the park, the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center is an exceptional art studio for visitors to observe Tlingit artists performing their native craft. Also part of the Park, the restored Russian Orthodox Church Bishop’s House of 1842 offers visitors a chance to step back into history and feel and understand what it was like to live in Sitka during the Russian-American period.

Saint Michael’s Cathedral

St. Michael’s Cathedral is a picturesque focal point in Sitka, topped by its magnificent onion-shaped domes accented by gold crosses. It was the first Russian church built in America, built between 1844-48.

Humpback Whale Breach

Sitka Whalefest

Sitka is a popular place for whale watching cruises. Humpback whales are very active from mid-September to mid-January. Some of the best whale watching cruises are available in September and early November. The Sitka Whalefest event is held in early November each year and has several days of whale watching tours, educational programs, workshops, and discussions focusing on whales and their environment.

Alaska Raptor Center, Sitka

Alaska Raptor Center

The Alaska Raptor Center is a non-profit center dedicated to preserving Alaska’s birds-of-prey. The Center provides medical treatment to birds, education programs for visitors, and conducts research. Over 36,000 visitors per year tour the center. Visitors may view about 24 birds-of-prey including bald and golden eagles, hawks, falcons and owls, and learn about these birds and their habitats.

Access: Daily jet service from Seattle (2 hours), Anchorage (2 hours via Juneau) and southeastern communities; Alaska Marine Highway state ferry, floatplane service, all classes of cruise vessels. No mainland road access.

Location: Sitka is located on the outer west coast of Baranof Island, situated in Southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage.

Population: 8,835 .

Accommodations: Six hotels/motels (275 rooms), approx. 48 bed and breakfasts and vacation rentals, one youth hostel, many fishing lodges. 3 public and 1 private campgrounds (2 specifically are RV only). 33 coffee or snack shops and restaurants, many located in the downtown area.

External Link: Sitka Convention & Visitors Bureauofficial website.