Established in 1910, Sitka National Historical Park is the oldest national park in Alaska. It is also one of the oldest in the United States, predating the creation of the National Park Service, which won’t celebrate its centennial until 2016.
This area of Alaska has a long history. Centuries before Russian arrival, native Tlingits established villages throughout the area including Shee Atika at the site of present-day Sitka. Sitka National Historical Park was created to commemorate the 1804 Battle of Sitka, the last major conflict between Europeans and Alaska natives–that the Tlingits lost.
In addition to the actual battle site, the park includes a world-renowned collection of Tlingit totem poles, the Russian bishop’s house (one of just four buildings in North America that remain from the Russian era), and the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, where visitors can watch Native artisans at work.
There is an entire year of celebrations planned for the 100th birthday of this special place. For a complete schedule of events, see: http://www.nps.gov/sitk/
To learn more about NPCA’s regional work in Alaska and for the full story on Sitka, download the latest field report from NPCA’s Alaska team.
Source cited: http://www.nps.gov newsletter
