What Is It?
At Sitka National Historical Park, forests, coastal waters and the Indian River all provide biologically rich environments. The 113-acre park in Southeast Alaska is a great place to learn about nature and the area’s deep cultural history—including through a collection of totem poles from Indigenous communities around Southeast Alaska.
History
This is Alaska’s oldest federally designated park. It was named a national monument in 1910 to honor the Battle of 1804, the last major armed conflict between invading Russian traders and the Sitka Tlingit people. Today, National Park Service rangers lead a variety of walks exploring different aspects of the area’s history, including this battle.
Culture
The park’s visitor center offers exhibits and videos detailing traditional Tlingit life and culture. Many artifacts are on display year-round. In the summer, artists demonstrate traditional craftwork from local Tlingit or Haida culture—such as carving, weaving, beading or metalwork Also, the park is home to a Russian Bishop’s house built in 1842 and is one of the last surviving Russian colonial buildings in North America.
Explore
During summer, visitors can see salmon returning up the Indian River to spawn, with one of the best viewing spots from the Arched Bridge. For those looking to see the Sitka spruce and hemlock in the park’s forest, an easy, entry-level hike is the 1.6-mile Totem Trail.
More Information
During summer, the park is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To start planning your visit, head online to www.nps.gov/sitk or call 907-747-0110.