Things to Do in Sitka

The story of St. Michael’s Cathedral is really the story of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska. Since the Russians settled in North America starting in 1741, sporadic attempts were made to Christianize the Natives, and in 1848 the capital of the Russian Orthodox Church moved to Sitka and St. Michael’s Cathedral was erected. Though partially destroyed in a fire in January of 1966, the rebuilt Cathedral stands as an outstanding example of Russian Orthodox architecture and was the major religious office in the area until Russia ceded Alaska to the United States in 1867. Today, St. Michael’s Cathedral houses an impressive collection of Russian Orthodox art and various church relics. Set against a sub-arctic skyline, it is a memorable sight for any photographer.

Sitka National Historical Park is Alaska's oldest national park. Established in 1890 to commemorate the 1804 Battle of Sitka, as well as to preserve Native totemic art, the park strives to combine beautiful temperate rainforest with history. Northwest Coast totem poles line much of the coastal trail here, and the Russian Bishop’s house stands as one of the last existing examples of Russian Colonial architecture in North America. Visitors can also attend ethnographic exhibits and the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, where guests are allowed to watch native artists at work. In addition, you can still visit the site of the Tlingit Fort and battlefield near the heart of this 113-acre (45-hectare) national park, and though not much remains of the last major battle between Europeans and the Alaskan Natives, it remains an interesting glimpse into the past, surrounded by towering spruce and western hemlock.

Situated in downtown Sitka, overlooking a magnificent fjord, Sitka’s Sheldon Jackson Museum is a warm and friendly storehouse of knowledge and artificats, where long-term curators give a hands-on approach to telling the history of life in the Chilkat Valley.

Numerous Native artifacts help to illuminate the life and times of the local Athapaskan, Eskimo, Aleut, and Northwest Coast Natives here. Upon walls hang masks, within drawers lay keys, sewing kits, toys, and other knick-knacks that reveal glimpses into fascinating pasts.

The Sheldon Jackson Museum is well-known for being small but complete museum, with a hands-on approach to education. Live demonstrations such as basket weaving and wood carving routinely occur here and are available to the public.

The Pacific Coast town of Sitka sits on Baranof Island in Alaska’s Inside Passage and is only accessible by air and sea. Its combination of Russian settlement history, native Tlingit culture and breathtaking natural landscapes makes it one of the Inside Passage’s greatest hits.

Shore excursions like sea kayaking cater to outdoor enthusiasts, while culture and history buffs will enjoy a walking tour of town.

How to get to Sitka
Most cruise ships anchor in the bay and tender passengers to the harbor in the downtown area, which can be explored on foot.

One Day in Sitka
Start your walking tour of town at Castle Hill on Lincoln Street, near the tender drop-off point by O’Connell Bridge. Snap some photos of Sitka and the waterfront at the lookout spot, where the Russian flag was lowered and the American flag raised when Alaska was transferred to the US in 1867. Then continue along Lincoln Street, the town’s main drag.

Pass by St Michael’s Cathedral and the Russian Bishop’s House, both of which date back to the 1840s, as you make your way to Sitka National Historic Park. Check out the Russian and indigenous exhibits before taking a walk on the park trail that winds its way past several traditional totem poles.

For more town scenery, make your way to Katlian Street, which will take you along the Sitka Channel, full of fishing boats. Before getting back on your ship, don’t miss a performance by the New Archangel Dancers if you didn’t catch them when you disembarked.