Attractions
MINS
Visit Sitka Visitor Information Center is open year-round. Friendly staff will answer your questions with the most up-to-date information. 3 MINS
Baranof Castle State Historic Site was an early stronghold of the Tlingit Kiks. ádi Clan. Later, the Russian Governor occupied the hill in“ Baranov’ s Castle” until 1894. In 1867, this was the site of the Alaska transfer from Russia to the United States. Access stairs from Lincoln St. or a paved walkway from Harbor Way. 10 MINS, NHLS
St. Michael’ s Cathedral was the first Orthodox church in the Americas. The current building is an exact replica of the original, which was built in the 19th century and destroyed in the fire of 1966. The church has an active congregation and houses a collection of artifacts and icons believed to date back to the 17th century. 3 MINS, NHLS, NRHP $
2
Sitka Lutheran Church is the site of the first Protestant church on the West Coast of North America. The church contains artifacts from the original 1843 Finnish Lutheran Church, including the 1844 Kessler organ. 3 MINS
Harrigan Centennial Hall is Sitka’ s civic and convention center. In the summer, the hall is the drop-off location for cruise shuttles and is also home to tour operator vendor stations.
Approx walking distance from convention center / cruise shuttle drop-off
Welcome! Downtown Sitka is rich in history and attractions that share the culture of our community. While you’ re here be conscious of your surroundings by using crosswalks, leaving no trace, and respecting Lingít Aaní.
NHLS
National Historic
National Register Landmark Site NRHP of Historic Places = Wheelchair Access $ = Admission Charge = Summer Seasonal = Public Toilet
Sitka Fine Arts Campus, formerly Sheldon Jackson College, was founded in 1878 and was comprised of over 18 buildings. Today, it is home to year-round arts education programs for youth and adults; and the Sitka Music Festival. 9 MINS, NHLS, NRHP
Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska’ s oldest federal cultural and historical park, was designed in 1890. This park preserves and interprets the 1804 battle site between the Tlingit Kiks. ádi and Russians. Haida and Tlingit totem poles from the early 1900s, as well as modern carved poles, are located in the visitor center and along the gravel pathway. 20 MINS, NRHP
Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center is a rehabilitation center for bald eagles and other birds of prey. The center aims to heal injured birds and release them back into the wild. 20 MINS $
Fortress of the Bear is a bear rescue center where resident brown and black bears roam in a naturalized setting. The visitor center allows you to view from above in a covered area or from ground level. 2 HRS $
Sitka National Cemetery, established in the late 19th century, is one of two National Cemeteries in Alaska that memorialize U. S. military veterans. 20 MINS, NRHP
Sitka Pioneer Home was built in the 1930s on the site of wooden Russian barracks. Today, the building is an assisted living facility for 75 elderly Alaskans. A 13-foot bronze statue titled“ The Prospector” graces the front of the building. 10 MINS, NRHP
Hames P. E. Center is an athletic and wellness center offering classes and daily passes. 10 MINS $
Crescent Harbor Tender Dock 1 MIN
St. Gregory Catholic Church( and Ave Maria Chapel, c. 1922), has offered Catholic masses in Sitka since 1867. 7 MINS $
O’ Connell Bridge Dock 7 MINS
The RIDE, Public Transit 2 MINS $
Alaska Odyssey Dome is Alaska’ s largest dome theater, featuring breathtaking films about wildlife in Sitka. Located at the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal. 2 HRS $
Sheet’ ká Treetop Adventures is an aerial adventure park incorporating Sitka’ s old-growth forest in the adventure. 25 + obstacles are arranged in a progression of difficulty, with options for adventurers of all levels. > Icons: 2 HRS $
Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal
Sitka History Museum features Sitka’ s story from the U. S. purchase to the current day, with rotating exhibits highlighting different aspects of local history. 1 MIN $
Russian Bishop’ s House, c. 1841, is a log structure and one of the oldest surviving buildings of Russian America. Now an NPS museum, it was once the home and office of the first Bishop of the Orthodox Church. 3 MINS, NHLS, NRHP
Sitka Russian Cemetery is over 200 years old and contains more than 1,600 graves, many marked with headstones made from the ballast of Russian ships. 8 MINS
Princess Maksoutoff’ s Grave honors Princess Maria Maksoutoff, the Russian-born wife of the last Russian governor, Prince Dimitri Maksoutoff. After her death in 1881, at the age of 36, Princess Maksoutoff was returned to Sitka for burial. 9 MINS
Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, 5 miles from downtown, handles most of Sitka’ s cruise traffic.
Free shuttle:
• Runs every 15 min while ships are docked
• 10-15 min ride to Harrigan Centennial Hall(# 4)
• Last shuttle leaves downtown 30 min before all aboard
St. Peter’ s by the Sea Episcopal Church & See House is the oldest standing church in Sitka. Built in 1899 of stone and wood in the Gothic Revival style, the church features a rose stained glass window with a Star of David. The See House behind the church was built in 1905 as the church rectory. 5 MINS, NRHP
Sitka Sound Science Center( The Sage Building, c. 1929), housed a hydro plant that supplied energy to the neighborhood. Today, it is home to an aquarium, a wet lab, and an onsite fish hatchery. 9 MINS $
Sheldon Jackson State Museum is the oldest museum in Alaska and the state’ s first concrete building. Occupied since 1897, the octagon-shaped building currently houses a collection of over 6,000 Alaska Native artifacts from across the state. 9 MINS, NRHP $
Russian Blockhouse is a replica of the building that was once part of a fort wall that separated the Russian and Tlingit sections of Sitka after the Tlingit moved back to the area 20 years following the Battle of 1804. 10 MINS
Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall( Sitka Camp No. 1), c. 1914, was built as a meeting place for the fight for Alaska Native rights, and the camp continues to be an important force in preserving Native heritage. 14 MINS, NHLS, NRHP
Sheet’ ka Kwaán Naa Kahidi Tribal Community House, home of the Naa Kahidi Native Dancers, was built in the style of a traditional Tlingit clan house on a site that once housed the Indian Government School. 12 MINS
Totem Square is an Alaska State Park area at the end of Lincoln St. This small park contains a 40-foot totem pole that displays the double-headed eagle of Sitka’ s Russian heritage. 10 MINS
Tour Information
Independent tours can be purchased by vendors located at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
Shore excursions purchased through the cruise line depart from either the terminal building or at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Be sure to carefully check your ticket for meeting times and locations.
Learn More
Click to view more maps and information.