SITKA

Nestled at the foot of magnificent glacial carved mountains facing the

Pacific Ocean on Baranof Island, Sitka is located on the outer coast of
Alaska’s Inside Passage and lies at the heart of the largest temperate rain
forest in the world, the Tongass National Forest.  With views of island-
studded waters and forests descending to the water’s edge, Sitka is home to
9,061 people.

Sitka’s colorful past is a unique blend of native Tlingit culture and Russian
history.  In 1867, when the United States purchased Alaska from the
Russians, the transfer ceremony was held in Sitka, and Sitka became
Alaska’s first capital city.

Accessible only by air or sea, Sitka offers incredible scenery, fishing, hiking,
abundant wildlife, and Alaska’s most culturally rich history and community.
There are twenty two buildings and sites in Sitka that appear in the National
Register of Historic Places.  Residents and visitors alike enjoy and
experience all this dynamic town has to offer.

The City and Borough of Sitka is a unified city-borough located on the west side of
Baranof Island in the Alexander Archipelago of the Pacific Ocean (part of the Alaska
Panhandle), in the U.S. state of Alaska. Sitka enjoys the distinction of being the only
town in Southeast Alaska that faces the Gulf of Alaska. With an estimated
population of 8,986 in 2005, Sitka is the state's fourth-largest city by population in
Alaska and the largest city by area in the United States, four times the size of
Rhode Island. Sitka also boasts the largest harbor system in the State of Alaska.
Sitka’s history began as the ice that covered much of Southeast Alaska
began to recede. According to a Tlingit legend, Mount Edgecumbe, a 3,200-
foot-tall dormant volcano, located on southern Kruzof Island, was the
smoking beacon that brought the original native Tlingit Indians to Sitka
around 10,000 years ago.

Old Sitka was founded in 1799 by Alexandr Baranov, the governor of

Russian America. Baranov arrived under the auspices of the Russian-
American Company, a "semi- official" colonial trading company chartered by
the Tsar. 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 "semi-official" colonial trading company
chartered by Tsar Paul I. In 1802, a group of Tlingit destroyed the original
establishment known as Redoubt Saint Michael (an area today called the
"Old Sitka") and massacred most of the Russian inhabitants. Baranov was
forced to levy 10,000 rubles in ransom for the safe return of the surviving
settlers.

Baranov returned to Sitka in 1804 with a large contingent of Russians and

Aleuts aboard the Russian warship Neva. The ship bombarded the natives'
village, forcing the Tlingits to retreat into the surrounding forest. Following
their victory at the Battle of Sitka,the Russians established a permanent
settlement in the form of a fort named "Novoarkhangelsk" (or "New
Archangel", Photo by William Greer a reference to Arkhangelsk, the largest
city in the region where Baranov was born). In 1808, with Baranov still
governor, Sitka was designated the capital of Russian America.

Cathedral of St. Michael, the seat of the Bishop of Kamchatka, the Kurile and
Aleutian Islands, and Alaska, was built in Sitka in 1848.

The original church burned to the ground in 1966, but was restored to its
original appearance, with the deliberate exception of its clockface, which is
black in photographs taken prior to 1966, but white in subsequent photos.

Bishop Innokentii of the Russian Orthodox Church lived in Sitka after 1840.
He was known for his interest in education, and his house, parts of which
served as a schoolhouse, the Russian Bishop's House has since been
restored by the National Park Service. Swedes and Finns were both
important parts of the Russian empire, and the Sitka Lutheran Church, built
in 1840, was the first Protestant church on the Pacific Coast. After the
transition to American control with the transfer of Alaska from Russia to the
United States in 1867, influence of other Protestant religions increased, and
St. Peter's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church was consecrated as "The Cathedral
of Alaska" in 1900.

The town served as the capital of Russian America until 1867, and was the
busiest seaport on the west coast of North America, as evidenced by Dana
in his popular account of an 1834 sailing voyage, Two Years Before the
Mast.

Sitka was the site of the ceremony in which the Russian flag was lowered
and the United States flag raised after Alaska was purchased by the United
States in 1867 after the sea otter pelt trade died out. The flag lowering and
raising event is re-enacted in Sitka every October 18 (Alaska Day). After the
original ceremony, the entire U.S. government presence in Alaska until the
Klondike Gold Rush consisted of a single customs inspector on the island.
Sitka would serve as the capital of the Alaska Territory until 1906, when the
seat of government was relocated north to Juneau. The state's first
newspaper, The Sitka Times, was published by Barney O. Ragan on
September 19, 1868.

While gold mining and fish canning paved the way for the town's initial
growth, it wasn't until World War II, when the Navy constructed an air base
on Japonski Island, (with its 30,000 service personnel) that Sitka finally came
into its own. Today Sitka encompasses portions of Baranof Island and the
smaller Japonski Island (across the Sitka Channel from the town), which is
connected to Baranof Island by the O'Connell Bridge. O'Connell Bridge was
the first cable stayed bridge built in the Western Hemisphere. Japonski
Island is home to Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport, the Sitka branch campus of
the University of Alaska Southeast, the Mt. Edgecumbe High School — a
state-run boarding school for rural Alaskans, the Indian Health Service
regional hospital SEARHC (Southeast Alaska Regional Healthcare Center), a
U.S. Coast Guard air station, and the port and facilities for the USCGC
Maple.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the City and Borough of
Sitka is the second largest incorporated area in the U.S, with a total area of
4,811.5 square miles (12,461.8 km2). 2,874.0 square miles (7,443.6 km2) of it
is land and 1,937.6 square miles (5,018.2 km2) of it, or 40.27%, is water.

Sitka displaced Juneau, Alaska as the largest city upon the 2000
incorporation with 2,874 square miles (7,440 km2) of incorporated area.
Juneau is 2,717 square miles (7,040 km2) and was formed through
incorporation of the borough and city in 1970.

 Average annual rainfall is 86 inches (2,200 mm); annual average

snowfall is 39 inches (990 mm).
 The average high temperature in August is 62 degrees Fahrenheit
and the average low temperature in January is 30 degrees
Fahrenheit.

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,881 people, 3,545 households, and
2,211 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3.1
people per square mile (1.2/km2). There were 4,102 housing units at an
average density of 1.3/sq mi (0.5/km2). The racial makeup of the borough
was 65.3% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 16.8% Native American,
6.0% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 9.8% from two
or more races 4.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,545 households out of which 29.5% had children under the
age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together,
10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were
non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and
20.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The
average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.01. In
the borough, the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of
19, 5.8% from 20 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 24% from 45 to 64, and 17.2%
who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years.  The
median income for a household in the borough was $58,895, and the
median income for a family was $71,068.  The per capita income for the
borough was $30,013. About 4.0% of families and 6.7% of the population
were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18.

Building 29

206 Lincoln St., Sitka, AK 99835

Building 29 (currently the Log Cache), also known as the Tilson Building, is one
of the few structures surviving from the Russian era of Alaska history.  Built in
1835, it is listed with the National Historic Landmarks. Spruce logs, sawdust
insulation system, and heavy squared beams support the structure.

Castle Hill
100 Lincoln St., Sitka, AK 99835

(Baranof Castle Site) An early stronghold of the Kiksadi clan. A succession of

Russian buildings were later erected on this site. The last one, known as
“Baranof’s Castle,” was erected in 1837, and perished in a fire in 1898.  On
October 18, 1867, it was the site of the transfer of Alaska to the United States. 
Each year, Alaska Day is still celebrated on October 18.  This historical site is
managed by Alaska State Parks. National Register of Historical Places.

 Phone (907) 747-6249

Japonski Island

Island adjacent to Sitka, Sitka, AK 99835

WWII headquarters for military forces who served in Sitka. During WWII,
Japonski Island was connected by a man-made causeway in the 1940s to the
surrounding chain of islands which served as a location for bunkers and
gunning sites. Though the bunkers and sites are not well preserved, they are
accessible by boat. The island was connected to Sitka by the O’Connell Bridge
in 1972. Presently, it is the site of a USCG Air Station and Boat Station,
University of Alaska Southeast, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, Southeast Alaska
Regional Health Center, and the Rocky Gutierrez Airport.

Mariner’s Wall

231 Katlian St., Sitka, AK 99835

Located at ANB Harbor, off of Katlian Street, this dedicated brick wall with 2,000
inscriptions represents the rich maritime history of Southeast Alaska and a
special memorial to mariners.

Russian Block House

N Side 120 Katlian St., Sitka, AK 99835

Replica of the block house that separated the Russian and Tlingit sections of
Sitka after the Tlingits moved back into the area 20 years following the 1804
battle.  Located on the north side of the Pioneer Home on Katlian Street.

St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral

240 Lincoln St., Sitka, AK 99835

An important collection of Russian Orthodox art and rare church treasures. Built in
1844-48, the church was totally destroyed by fire in January of 1966. Many of the
precious icons and religious objects were salvaged and are in the rebuilt structure.
Summer hours: 9am – 4pm on large cruise ship days, or check posted hours on the
church door; Sundays by appointment only. Winter hours: Please call (907) 747-8120
for an appointment. A $5.00 donation is requested. St. Michael’s Cathedral is listed on
the National Register of Historic Places. Located in the downtown area.

 Phone (907) 747-8120

 Website stmichaelcathedral.org

St. Peter’s by The Sea Episcopal Church

611 Lincoln Street, Sitka, AK 99835

Since Sitka was the capital of Territorial Alaska in 1895, it was chosen as the “See
City” by Bishop Rowe. The first service was held in St. Peter’s in 1899. In 1901, St.
Peter’s was chartered as Alaska’s Pro Cathedral. Located directly behind the church is
the bishop’s residence, referred to as the “See House,” built in 1905 by Bishop Rowe.
The church continues to be used by many for quiet and prayer, regular worship, and a
place of meeting for community organizations. According to legend, Joseph of
Arimathea’s staff took root and blossomed. In April of 1999, St. Peters’ by the Sea
received the third planting from this Holy Thorn of Glastonbury and planted it on the
church’s grounds.

Sitka Lutheran Church

224 Lincoln St., Sitka, AK 99835

Sitka Lutheran Church is the site of the first Protestant church on the west coast of
North America which contains original artifacts from the original 1843 Finnish
Lutheran Church. They include a 1844 Kessler organ built specifically for the Church in
Estonia, a chandelier, pulpit, and communion rail. Sitka Lutheran Church was founded
in 1839-40 by “Finns” who worked for the Russian American Company in Alaska.
Located on Lincoln Street in the heart of downtown Sitka. From mid-May to mid-
September, Monday – Saturday, trained volunteers offer FREE tours and literature.

 Phone (907) 747-3338

 Email office.slc1840@gci.net

 Website sitkalutheranchurch.com

Sitka Maritime Heritage Society

Corner of Airport Road and Seward Ave.

We are a non-profit dedicated to preserving maritime heritage and sharing that legacy
with the public especially youth. We are restoring a historic building as a maritime
heritage center and working boat space. We put on classes, events, and programs aimed
at celebrating and educating people on Sitka’s maritime history.

 Phone (907) 738-7448

 Email sitkamaritime@gmail.com

 Website sitkamaritime.org

Sitka National Historical Park

106 Metlakatla St., Sitka, AK 99835

This scenic 107-acre park preserves and interprets the site of a Tlingit Indian fort
and the battle fought between the Russians and the Tlingits in 1804. A fine
collection of Haida and Tlingit totem poles was moved there from the Louisiana
Exposition in St. Louis in 1904, and in April, 1996, a locally carved totem was
raised in traditional ceremonial style. The museum contains an exhibit of Tlingit
and Russian artifacts. Please visit the park’s auditorium to view the fascinating
historical movie depicting Sitka’s colorful and rich past.  The main building
houses authentic original totems, a fine indoor museum artifact display, and an
active Tlingit arts program/studio where the public can watch and talk to local
Alaskan Native Indian artists.  A free, self-guided oceanside flat walking trail
leads past numerous hand carved totems to the site where the Tlingit fort once
stood.  Popular guided ranger walks on various topics are offered throughout the
week in the summer months; please check with the park for weekly
schedule. Sitka National Historical Park is listed on the National Register of
Historical Places. Summer hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm daily. Winter hours:
8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday – Saturday; closed Sunday.  Trails are open from 7am
– 8pm.

 Phone (907) 747-0110

 Website nps.gov/sitk/index.htm