Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Juneau (must see)

Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church reflects the history of interaction between Tlingit traditions and Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Southeast Alaska. Built in 1894 with financial support and religious materials from Russia, the church is distinguished by its octagonal design, traditional Orthodox icons, and role as one of the few Orthodox churches in Alaska established primarily for an Indigenous congregation rather than Russian settlers.

The church was founded by members of the local Tlingit community, who had become interested in Orthodox Christianity through contact with the faith already established in Sitka. During the late 19th century, a period marked by major cultural changes and tensions among different missionary groups, Tlingit leaders sought religious instruction from the Orthodox Church. According to local Orthodox tradition, several leaders shared a dream of a short, bald, white-bearded man who encouraged them to seek guidance. When they later visited the Orthodox bishop in Sitka, they identified the figure from their dream in an icon of Saint Nicholas of Myra, leading them to dedicate their new church to the saint.

Today, Saint Nicholas Church continues to serve Juneau’s Orthodox community and remains connected to Orthodox congregations in nearby villages. The parish includes around 50 families and has expanded its activities in recent years, including renewed youth programs and Sunday School after several decades without these services. The church remains an example of how Orthodox Christianity became part of the cultural landscape of Southeast Alaska while developing within a predominantly Tlingit community.