Sitka Historical Museum, Sitka

The Sitka Historical Museum provides an overview of the city's history, from its Tlingit roots to the Russian colonial period and its development as part of the United States. One of the museum's highlights is a detailed scale model of Sitka as it appeared in 1867, the year Alaska was transferred from Russia to the United States. The model shows the town's streets, buildings, and waterfront, helping visitors understand the layout of Sitka during this important period of transition.

The museum's exhibits explore the cultures and events that have shaped the community. Displays on Tlingit traditions include examples of finely woven cedar and spruce root baskets, reflecting the skills and materials used by Indigenous peoples of Southeast Alaska. Other exhibits examine Sitka's military history during World War II, when the town experienced blackouts and a significant military buildup due to its strategic location in the Pacific.

A major strength of the museum is its presentation of Sitka's layered history through Native, Russian, and American perspectives. Exhibits include the history of the Sheldon Jackson School and its transformation from a missionary school into a college, as well as a Chilkat Blanket, a ceremonial robe traditionally woven from mountain goat wool and cedar bark by Tlingit weavers. These collections provide insight into the traditions, challenges, and changes that have shaped Sitka over time.