Sitka Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Sitka

Rubbing shoulders with the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, the coastal town of Sitka boasts a fascinating past, having served first as the capital of Russian America and then the Alaska Territory.

The name Sitka is derived from "Shee At'iká," which in the Tlingit language (of the indigenous people of Southeast Alaska and Western Canada) means"people on the outside of Shee," referring to Baranof Island, where the town is located.

Russian explorers settled Old Sitka in 1799, christening it as the Fort of Archangel Michael. Led by Alexander Baranov, governor of Russian America, under the Russian-American Company (a colonial trading entity chartered by Tsar Paul I), the settlement aimed at bolstering Russian presence in Alaska. However, in June 1802, Tlingit warriors decimated the original settlement, prompting Baranov to negotiate a hefty ransom for the survivors.

Returning in force in August 1804, Baranov led an assault on the Tlingit fortification. Despite initial setbacks, prolonged bombardment led to the surrender of the Tlingit, resulting in the establishment of New Archangel (or Novoarkhangelsk), which became the region's largest settlement and the capital of Russian America in 1808.

The presence of Bishop Innocent, a Russian Orthodox missionary, further solidified Sitka's significance. His residence, the Russian Bishop's House, later restored as part of Sitka National Historical Park, attests to the city's religious and educational importance. The construction of the Cathedral of Saint Michael in 1848 also symbolized the Russian Orthodox influence.

Sitka was the site of the transfer ceremony for the Alaska purchase on October 18, 1867. This transaction, driven by Russia's desire to offload the territory amid economic and political turmoil following the Crimean War, saw the United States acquiring Alaska for $7.2 million, at a mere 2 cents per acre.

Following the purchase, Sitka served as the capital of the US Government Department of Alaska until 1884 and the District of Alaska until 1906 when the government seat shifted to Juneau due to the latter's rising economic prominence during the Klondike Gold Rush.

In later years, Sitka gained military significance as the location of Alaska's first seaplane base established by the United States Navy in 1937, with the construction of Fort Ray commencing in 1941 for defense purposes during World War II.

From Alaska Natives to Russians, Sitka boasts a fascinating blend of cultures. You can take a self-guided stroll through the town and explore it on your own by stopping at notable points like the Sitka National Historical Park, the Baranof Castle State Historic Site, and the Sheldon Jackson Museum. So, go for it and make the most of your time in this part of America's North!