Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Sitka, Alaska
Year Listed: 2010
Tucked away on the coast of Baranof Island in Southern Alaska, Sitka is located in the heart of the Tongass National Forest and rests in the shadow of the dormant Mt. Edgecumbe volcano. The town boasts a history dating back 10,000 years when the Tlingit Natives migrated to what is now the largest remaining temperate rainforest in the world. Later, Sitka became the Russian-American capital and was known as the "Paris of the Pacific." Many of the sites and traditions that make up Sitka's cultural heritage are still at the center of daily life in the bustling downtown.
Activities
As Sitka is only reachable by boat or plane, visitors will find that most of the town's noteworthy sites are within a short distance of each other and are easily accessible on foot, bike or via public transportation. Art lovers will enjoy the Sheldon Jackson Museum, housed in the first concrete building in Alaska and containing the most extensive ethnographic collection of the indigenous peoples of Alaska and the North Pacific Region. The nearby 17 million-acre Tongass National Forest provides ample opportunity for hiking, backpacking and camping and the island boasts world class diving and charter fishing trips.
National Trust Tours: Journey to Alaska, last of the great American frontiers, on a cruise of the Inside Passage aboard the six-star Silver Shadow.
Culture and Tradition
The Tlingit and Russian cultures are alive and well in the city of Sitka – so much so that the native Tlingit language is still taught in the local schools. Visitors will notice that many of the city's landmarks are still in use for their original purposes; the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall established in 1914 is a meeting place and activity center for the local indigenous culture. Castle Hill, located downtown, served as the center of power for both the Tlingit and Russian cultures and was eventually the site of the territory's transfer from Russian to American hands. Visitors can experience both cultures through the performances of the Sheetka Kwaan Naa Kahidi Dancers and the New Archangel Dancers who demonstrate traditional Tlingit and Russian dances daily in the summer.
Don't Miss:
To plan your trip and learn more about Sitka, visit the Sitka Historic Preservation Commission.
