Sitka

A little about our second port of call, Sitka.  Population of city and borough, spread over several islands is about 8700.  Originally settled by the Tlingit people 10,000 years ago. In 1799 Russia established a fort in the area called Fort Saint Michael.  Needless to say, this did not sit well with the local population and several skirmishes took place over the next 5 years with Russia ultimately being the victor.   After this Russia established a permanent settlement named Archangel.  The Tlingit established their own fort near by.  By 1808 it was named the capital of Russian America.  In 1867 Alaska was purchased by the United States from Russia.  The two major employers are the local health authority and the school system.  Sitka is the 6th largest port by value of seafood harvest in the United States. 

Morning has risen, and so have we, and this is what greeted us as we opened the curtains - looks like we are going to have another great day.  We are nearing Sitka.

 approaching the dock

The Port of Sitka is situated at Halibut Point about 5 miles from town, so free shuttle busses were provided to get us into town.  Being Mother's Day, Sunday and early in the season, it was pretty quiet in town.  We opted not to go on any tours, so just wandered around the shops and the Russian Orthodox church.  St Michael's is the earliest Orthodox Cathedral built in the New World.  It was built in 1848/49 when Alaska was still under Russian rule.  The original building was destroyed by fire in 1966 but was rebuilt.

 The walls and ceiling of the building are covered with fabric, rather than wood

 Many pictures of icons in this church, typically surrounded by silver workings

 Robin's egg blue dome in the building

 Altar area, no females are ever allowed beyond the doors 

 Downtown scenery

By 4:30 we were pulling away form the dock, on our way to our next stop, Skagway