Sitka Attractions

The fishing port of Sitka on the west side of Baranoff Island in the Alexander Archipelago, founded by Alexander Baranoff in 1804, was once the chief town of Russian America. Places of interest are icons and vestments from the Orthodox church of St Michael (built 1844, burned down 1966) and the Sheldon Jackson Museum (artifacts, masks, craft products and clothing of Eskimos and Indians). In the Sitka National Historical Park are displays of materials illustrating the culture of the original Indian tribes and the Russian settlers and the scene of the last battle (1804) between Russians and Tlingit Indians, commemorated by Indian totem poles.