| Sitka National Historical Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 | |
   | |
| Location | City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska,USA |
| Nearest city | Sitka, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 57°02′56″N135°18′57″W / 57.04888°N 135.31596°W /57.04888; -135.31596 |
| Area | 112 acres (45 ha)[1] |
| Established | October 18, 1972 (1972-10-18) |
| Visitors | 186,864 (in 2011)[2] |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Sitka National Historical Park |
Sitka National Historical Park | |
| Location | 106 Metlakatla Street,Sitka, Alaska |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000164[3] |
| AHRS No. | SIT-012 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
Sitka National Historical Park (earlier known asIndian River Park andTotem Park) is anational historical park inSitka in theU.S. state ofAlaska.[4][5] It was redesignated as a national historical park from its previous status asnational monument on October 18, 1972.[6] The park in its various forms has sought to commemorate theTlingit andRussian experiences in Alaska.[7]: 7
The history of Alaska's oldest federally designated cultural and historic park dates back to June 21, 1890, whenPresidentBenjamin Harrison set aside the site of the Tlingit fortShis'kí Noow (Tlingit for "Sapling Fort") for public use.[8][9] The site, located near the mouth of theIndian River, served in 1804 as the location of an armed conflict between the native Tlingit people and Russian fur hunters (accompanied by theirAleut allies), known today as theBattle of Sitka.[9][10]
From 1903 to 1905,District GovernorJohn G. Brady set about acquiringNativetotem poles from all over Alaska for display at the park; the majority of the poles came fromHaida villages located onPrince of Wales Island, while others had been on display at the 1904Louisiana Purchase Exposition.[11][12] Shortly thereafter, a group of influential Sitkans concerned about vandalism and the poor condition of the park in general pressured the federal government to declare the site anational monument.[5]
TheSitka National Monument was proclaimed by PresidentWilliam H. Taft under theAntiquities Act on March 23, 1910 to preserve the fort site and totem pole collection and protect them from further harm.[4][13] With the creation of theNational Park Service in 1916, the monument fell under the new agency's care, though no significant appropriation was made until 1921.[5] Many of the poles exhibited today along the park's two miles (3.2 kilometers) of wooded pathways are replicas of the deteriorating originals, now held in protective storage.[12][14] Interspersed among the giantSitka spruce trees are a variety offerns, shrubs and flowers.[15]Salmon can be seen swimming up Indian River during spawning season.[16]
The 112-acre (45-hectare) park was placed under the control of the U.S. Army in 1942 and briefly occupied for defensive purposes, during which a series of military construction projects resulted in the removal of massive amounts of gravel from the park's river, shoreline and estuary.[4][5] Environmental impacts from the gravel removal were to be a major resource issue for decades after.[5] Responsibility for the park was formally returned to theDepartment of the Interior in 1947.[5] In 1965, a new visitor center (the park's first true visitor facility which provides space for exhibits and demonstrations of Alaska Native arts and crafts) was opened.[5] The park was added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 1966.[17]
In a groundbreaking arrangement, theAlaska Native Brotherhood assumed control of the demonstration program and established its focus onSoutheast Alaska Native cultural arts in 1969; theSoutheast Alaska Indian Cultural Center celebrated its 30th anniversary in January 2000.[5] Many of the remarkable Tlingit artifacts in the collection were loaned or donated by local clans under agreements designed to ensure ongoing, traditional use.[5]
Located approximately one–half mile from the Park, the Russian Bishop's House was constructed out of native spruce in 1841-43 byTlingit workers overseen byFinnish builders.[18][19][20] It is one of only four surviving examples ofRussian Colonial Style architecture in theWestern Hemisphere.[21]ABishopInnocent (Ivan Evseyevich Popov Veniaminov) of theRussian Orthodox Church, a clergyman, teacher and linguist, occupied the residence until 1853.[22]: 7–8 The Church operated the facility as a school, residence, and place of worship for another century, until the dilapidated condition forced its abandonment in 1969 and sale in 1973 to the Park Service.[18][23]
In 1973, the Park Service embarked on a 16–year restoration project to return the property to its former glory.[18][23] Modern plumbing, heating, and electrical systems were installed, while at the same time keeping the structure as authentic as possible.[18] The second floor was restored to its 1853 appearance, based on archaeological evidence and early diaries and drawings.[18] Today, numerous exhibits and lavish icons in the Chapel of the Annunciation convey the legacy ofRussian America.[18]
The Russian Bishop's House is aNational Historic Landmark; both it and the main area of the park are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[17]
A Though some sources indicate that the Bishop's house is one of "four" remaining examples of Russian Colonial architecture in North America, the National Park Service more ambiguously suggests it is one of "few" remaining such examples.[23]
 | Boroughs | .svg) | |
Census areas | |||
There are no sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Kusilvak Census Area. | |||
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