Baranof Castle State Historic Site, Sitka (must see)

The Baranof Castle State Historic Site, commonly known as Castle Hill, is one of Sitka's most important historical landmarks. Despite its name, the site was not the location of a stone castle; the name refers to the Russian settlement and administrative buildings associated with Alexander Baranov, the governor of Russian America. Before European settlement, the hill was occupied by the Tlingit Kiks.ádi people, who built a fortified village there because of its strategic location overlooking Sitka Sound. In 1804, after a period of conflict between the Tlingit and Russian forces, the Russians took control of the site and established it as the center of their colonial administration in Alaska.

From 1804 until the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, Castle Hill served as the location of Russian government buildings and remained a key site in the administration of Russian America. On October 18, 1867, the formal transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States took place on the hill, marking the beginning of a new era in the region's history. Today, the site represents several important chapters of Alaska's past, including Indigenous history, Russian colonization, and American expansion.

A paved walkway and a series of stairs lead visitors to the summit, where interpretive signs explain the site's history and provide views over Sitka Harbor and the surrounding islands. From the top, visitors can also see the O'Connell Bridge, a long cable-stayed bridge connecting Sitka's airport area with the main part of the city. With its combination of historical significance and views of Sitka's landscape, Castle Hill remains one of the city's most meaningful stops.