Sitka, Alaska

Sitka is one of the most extensive cities in Alaska, with a land area of about 2,882 square miles. It began as an important Tlingit Indian village and was called Shee At’ika, which translates roughly as “settlement on the outside of Shee”). In 1799, Alexander Baranof of the Russian American Company, a colonial trading company, decided to set up camp at what is now called Old Sitka, about 7.5 miles north of the present day town. The Tlingit Indians resisted the occupation and, in 1802, with Baranof away, burned the fort and massacred the Russian settlers. Two years later, Baranof returned and besieged the Indian fort. The Tlingits redrew and the Russians built a new city on a different site and called it New Archangel.

For over six decades, New Archangel was the capital of the Russian empire in Alaska. But by 1867, the Alaska colony had become too much of a financial burden to Russia, and the U.S. negotiated its purchase in the amount of $7.2 million for the entire Territory of Alaska (this equated to about 2 cents per acre). Sitka remained the capital of the US Territory of Alaska from 1867 to 1906, when it was moved to Juneau. The move was a direct result of the gold rush. In plain terms, Sitka did not have any gold and Juneau did.

We spent the day on a wildlife quest aboard an expedition catamaran that permitted us to explore areas unreachable by conventional boat. We were dropped off on a remote island (Frosty Reef) to see the colorful tide pools and marine life (at which time we were all given whistles around our necks in case we were approached by a bear…the discomforting concept was to run TOWARD anyone blowing the whistle as there is supposedly “safety in numbers.” Fortunately, no whistles were blown)!

We were delighted, however, to spot whales, dolphins and sea otters en route to and from the reef. With eagle eyes, our ranger also spotted several large brown bears onshore another island and we pulled up close to observe. We enjoyed immensely, but photo opportunities were not so great. Guess you all have to do this for yourselves…