Explore Sitka’ s Museums
You step into the Sheldon Jackson Museum, where soft light filters through the copula above, illuminating the space. You immediately turn right, walking up to a glass case where the intricate detail of Tlingít regalia is on full display. Exploring museums is a meaningful way to learn about a place, and in Sitka, it’ s the perfect chance to dive into the culture and history— and maybe even take a break from the rain.
The Sheldon Jackson Museum is known for its breadth of Indigenous pieces from Aleut and Alutiiq, Athabascan, Inupiat and Yup ' ik, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples. The museum’ s Native Artist Residency Program offers an opportunity to meet-and-greet Native artists at work. Local and visiting artists share traditional or contemporary Native art forms while utilizing the museum’ s collections for research. Sue Conrad, Museum Protection and Visitor Services Supervisor shares,“ Museum visitors have the opportunity to find out about the artists themselves, the history of their artforms, and what motivated them to get to this point.”
Other local museums also offer a look into Alaska’ s past, such as the Russian Bishop’ s House, which now houses modern exhibits showing the dynamic between the Russian and Tlingit people in the 19th century. Stop by the The Sitka History Museum to walk through the timeline of Sitka’ s history.“ It’ s a way to understand Sitka’ s history, its past. You see what shaped Sitka,” says Hal Spackman, Executive Director of the Sitka Historical Society & Museum. Located inside Harrigan Centennial Hall, this recently renovated museum features Tlingit artifacts, Russian pieces, and information about renowned Sitkans.
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