Sitka – Russian America of the 1800’s



Sitka, Alaska



Sitka Harbor



Communities of Sitka



We left Hanus Bay on July 11^th at 10:15 in the morning and arrived in Sitka at 5pm after transiting Peril Strait with strong wind and chop, then west through Sergius Narrows at slack water (the narrows can run 8-9 knots!), and then turned south along Neva Strait – another long day with beautiful weather.  Sitka is definitely worth a visit for its rich history and culture.  We visited the site of the Russian blockhouse from the early 1800’s and toured the Russian Orthodox Church with its many beautiful religious icons.  Bering-Chirikov’s expedition arrived in Alaska in 1741 but it was between 1799 and 1867 that the Russian imperial government, through the Russian American Company, maintained colonies in Alaska.  In 1802 the Russian-American Company (a lucrative fur trading business) sailed into the harbor occupied by the Tlingit village called “Sheet’ka” and set up their base of operations.  The Russians fortified the area by building a tall wall of sharpened logs connecting three blockhouses holding cannons which guarded Novo-Archangelsk (present day Sitka).  Czar Alexander required the Russian-American Company to support the Russian Orthodox Church’s missionary work.  The Company paid for clergy, and built churches and schools.  Baranov was the manager of the Russian American Company and the capital remained in Sitka until 1867 when the US purchased Alaska from Russia.  Geographic and economic factors led Russia to abandon the Alaska colonies, which marked the end of Russian America.  The Russian Orthodox Church continues to thrive in Alaska and still plays an important role in Sitka.



Reconstructed Russian Blockhouse, Original Site



Russian Orthodox Church