Sitka, Southeast Alaska and cruising…
Early morning found the Sea Lion cruising south heading for the inner harbor of Sitka, Alaska. Situated on Baranof Island, on the outer coast of Alaska’s panhandle. The name “Sitka” is a corrupted pronunciation of “Shee-Atika” (People on the side of the Shee), the name the Tlingit Natives called this quiet and beautiful harbor they have inhabited for thousands of years. In 1804 the Russian Empire forced its way into Sitka, and occupied this same site until 1867, when Alaska was sold to the United States…a changing of flags happening on October 18, 1867 atop Castle Hill; the Russian flag was lowered and the flag of the United States was raised, making Alaska the 49th state in the Union.
Once the Sea Lion was tied up and secured at the Petrol Marine dock in downtown Sitka, we began our tour of this important historical town. Our first stop was the Alaska Raptor Center. For 24 years the center has treated raptors as well as any number of shore and songbirds, most of which are sent to the center suffering from injuries resulting from human encounters or collisions with man-made objects. After a short tour of the new 20,000 square-foot flight training center we were ushered into a presentation room where we were introduced to Volta, a raptor in residence, used as an educational bird to sponsor a national “adopt a raptor” program. Once our presentation was finished we took some time to see the rest of the facility, making stops at various mews watching the birds in watching us.
Back on board our coaches, we made a short trip from the Raptor Center to the National Historical Park. This National park was established in 1910 by President William Howard Taft, commemorating the Battle of 1804 between the Tlingit Indians and czarist Russians. The park was also established as a place to display totem poles. In the center of the 106-acre park a 35-foot totem pole marks the original Tlingit fort site. No traces of the Kiksadi (Tlingit) fort remain today, but the newly carved pole was raised to honor Tlingit war chief and battle hero Katlian.
The park also has an interpretive and visitors center, where we had an opportunity to speak with local Native artists working under the auspices of the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, and sponsored by the National Historic Park. Questions flew back and forth as we had a chance to speak with local Native artists crafting form-line design into red alder bowls, helmets, silver and gold jewelry and the threads of a raven blanket – all expressions of art forms that have told the ancestral stories of these Native peoples for many generations.
Once our formal exploration of Sitka was complete, we now had time to wander through the Totem Pole Park, a lovely one mile trail with carved poles standing amongst the Sitka spruce and Western hemlock. Or we could return to Lincoln Street and enjoy a walk into Sitka to see the town!
Wandering the streets that were once the paths walked by the Tlingit ancestors, we watched as the mountains around the town were revealed as clouds retreated. The sea remained calm, the Eagles filled the sky and the beauty that was once Shee-Atika remained as a gift and a reminder, of the many different people who have called this place home.
As lunch was being served, the Sea Lion made her exit from Sitka. Moving north into Olga Strait, then White Stone Narrows, the skinniest section of Neva Strait, our vessel turned slightly Northwest in Salisbury Sound, zigzagging Northeast into Kakul narrows and finally entering Sergius Narrows, the entrance to Peril Straits. These passages weave a well-used path between Baranof and Chichagof Islands and eventually leads a carefully navigated vessel into Chatham Straits much larger body water. Our weather had been steadily getting warmer as the day passed…we were experiencing long early summer days, as the sun moved at what seemed a very leisurely pace across the sky. The Sea Lion continued cruising north heading for Sitkoh Bay, where we hoped to spend the evening looking for bears. The natural history staff was at their usual and accustomed posts spotting bear after bear – in total six bears were spotted. The warm early evening sun wrapped our shoulders in warmth, as we looked in every direction, seeing nothing less than yet another visual feast…
Early morning found the Sea Lion cruising south heading for the inner harbor of Sitka, Alaska. Situated on Baranof Island, on the outer coast of Alaska’s panhandle. The name “Sitka” is a corrupted pronunciation of “Shee-Atika” (People on the side of the Shee), the name the Tlingit Natives called this quiet and beautiful harbor they have inhabited for thousands of years. In 1804 the Russian Empire forced its way into Sitka, and occupied this same site until 1867, when Alaska was sold to the United States…a changing of flags happening on October 18, 1867 atop Castle Hill; the Russian flag was lowered and the flag of the United States was raised, making Alaska the 49th state in the Union.
Once the Sea Lion was tied up and secured at the Petrol Marine dock in downtown Sitka, we began our tour of this important historical town. Our first stop was the Alaska Raptor Center. For 24 years the center has treated raptors as well as any number of shore and songbirds, most of which are sent to the center suffering from injuries resulting from human encounters or collisions with man-made objects. After a short tour of the new 20,000 square-foot flight training center we were ushered into a presentation room where we were introduced to Volta, a raptor in residence, used as an educational bird to sponsor a national “adopt a raptor” program. Once our presentation was finished we took some time to see the rest of the facility, making stops at various mews watching the birds in watching us.
Back on board our coaches, we made a short trip from the Raptor Center to the National Historical Park. This National park was established in 1910 by President William Howard Taft, commemorating the Battle of 1804 between the Tlingit Indians and czarist Russians. The park was also established as a place to display totem poles. In the center of the 106-acre park a 35-foot totem pole marks the original Tlingit fort site. No traces of the Kiksadi (Tlingit) fort remain today, but the newly carved pole was raised to honor Tlingit war chief and battle hero Katlian.
The park also has an interpretive and visitors center, where we had an opportunity to speak with local Native artists working under the auspices of the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, and sponsored by the National Historic Park. Questions flew back and forth as we had a chance to speak with local Native artists crafting form-line design into red alder bowls, helmets, silver and gold jewelry and the threads of a raven blanket – all expressions of art forms that have told the ancestral stories of these Native peoples for many generations.
Once our formal exploration of Sitka was complete, we now had time to wander through the Totem Pole Park, a lovely one mile trail with carved poles standing amongst the Sitka spruce and Western hemlock. Or we could return to Lincoln Street and enjoy a walk into Sitka to see the town!
Wandering the streets that were once the paths walked by the Tlingit ancestors, we watched as the mountains around the town were revealed as clouds retreated. The sea remained calm, the Eagles filled the sky and the beauty that was once Shee-Atika remained as a gift and a reminder, of the many different people who have called this place home.
As lunch was being served, the Sea Lion made her exit from Sitka. Moving north into Olga Strait, then White Stone Narrows, the skinniest section of Neva Strait, our vessel turned slightly Northwest in Salisbury Sound, zigzagging Northeast into Kakul narrows and finally entering Sergius Narrows, the entrance to Peril Straits. These passages weave a well-used path between Baranof and Chichagof Islands and eventually leads a carefully navigated vessel into Chatham Straits much larger body water. Our weather had been steadily getting warmer as the day passed…we were experiencing long early summer days, as the sun moved at what seemed a very leisurely pace across the sky. The Sea Lion continued cruising north heading for Sitkoh Bay, where we hoped to spend the evening looking for bears. The natural history staff was at their usual and accustomed posts spotting bear after bear – in total six bears were spotted. The warm early evening sun wrapped our shoulders in warmth, as we looked in every direction, seeing nothing less than yet another visual feast…
