St. Michael's Cathedral, Sitka (must see)

Located in the center of downtown Sitka, Saint Michael's Cathedral is one of the most important surviving landmarks of Russian America. Built in the 1840s, it served as the headquarters of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska during the period of Russian rule. The original cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1966, but it was carefully reconstructed in 1976 using the original plans and reproducing the design of the earlier building.

The cathedral's distinctive green onion dome and spire reflect the architectural traditions of 19th-century Russian Orthodox churches, particularly those found in Saint Petersburg. Inside, visitors can view a collection of historic religious icons, including the "Christ Omnipotent" and "Our Lady of Sitka" (also known as the Sitka Madonna), an icon that has long been venerated by Orthodox believers and is associated by tradition with miraculous healings.

Among the cathedral's treasures is the pearl-embroidered miter of Bishop Innocent Veniaminov, who was later canonized as Saint Innocent of Alaska. A missionary, linguist, craftsman, and scholar, he documented several Alaska Native languages and cultures during his years in the region, leaving behind an important historical record of Alaska's Indigenous communities.

Today, Saint Michael's Cathedral remains the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska and continues to serve both local worshippers and visitors interested in the region's religious and cultural history. Regular services are still held, and the cathedral's collection provides a rare connection to Sitka's Russian colonial past and the continuing presence of Orthodox traditions in Alaska.