Caines Head State Recreation Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caines Head State Recreation Area |
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 Caines Head State Recreation Area
Location in Alaska
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| Location | Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska |
| Nearest city | Seward, Alaska |
| Area | 6,571 acres (26.59 km2) |
| Created | May, 1971 |
Caines Head State Recreation Area is a large park covering about 6,571 acres (26.59 km2). It's located on a special piece of land called Caines Head cape, which sticks out into Resurrection Bay in Alaska. The park is about 7 miles (11 km) south of the city of Seward, Alaska.
This area is a popular spot for visitors. It has beautiful forests filled with spruce and hemlock trees. You can also see lots of amazing wildlife here. In the water, you might spot harbor seals, Steller sea lions, sea otters, and even orcas, humpbacks, grey, and fin whales. On land, look out for brown and black bears, lynx, mountain goats, and wolves. The park also holds the remains of Fort McGilvray, a military base built during World War II to protect Alaska.
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Why Caines Head Was Important
There is no sign that Native American people lived in the Caines Head area before. The first permanent settlers arrived in Seward, Alaska on August 28, 1903. They came on a steamship called Santa Ana. The cape was named after Captain E.E. Caine, who helped start commercial shipping between the main United States and Alaska.
Protecting Seward During World War II
During World War II, Caines Head became very important for defense. The cape sticks far out into Resurrection Bay. This meant that any ships entering the bay had to pass close to Caines Head to reach the port of Seward. The cape is also very tall, about 1,500 feet (460 m) high, with a rough shoreline. The tides here can change by 20 feet (6.1 m), making it hard for enemies to land boats.
Because of its great location, the US Army took over Caines Head in July 1941. This was months before the Attack on Pearl Harbor. The port of Seward was vital for sending supplies during the war because it was an ice-free port at the end of the Alaska Railroad.
Building Fort McGilvray
In 1941, the US Army sent 277 soldiers and four large 155-mm guns to Caines Head. After the Pearl Harbor attack and the Japanese invasion of the Aleutian Islands, the US Army increased its presence. In July 1942, they started building permanent defenses on Caines Head.
They built over 5 miles of roads for military use, but these roads never connected to Seward. Instead, docks were built at the north end of the road system. Strong 6-inch gun batteries were set up on Caines Head. A radar station and a submarine detection system were also used in Resurrection Bay to support the guns. On March 25, 1943, the military base on Caines Head was officially named Fort McGilvray.
The defense project was almost finished by February 1944. However, the US Army and Navy were doing very well in the Pacific Theater of World War II. This made the fort less important, so the battery was left empty on April 7, 1944. The guns and equipment were taken apart on March 4, 1947.
Becoming a State Park
In 1971, the Caines Head area was made into the Caines Head State Recreation Area. The goal was to create outdoor fun and protect the old Fort McGilvray. By 1974, the park grew to 5,961 acres (2,412 ha). In 1995, another 610 acres (250 ha) were added, making the park its current size of 6,771 acres (2,740 ha). More and more tourists started visiting the area in 1984, and the first park rangers arrived in 1985.
Visiting Caines Head Today
You can reach Caines Head State Recreation Area by walking or by boat. The park has many nature trails, and some of them follow the original military roads. When you visit, you can see the remains of Fort McGilvray. These include rebuilt wooden buildings from 1941, parts of the old military docks, and the original gun battery areas.
The park is great for hiking and fishing. If you plan to hike along the beach trails, it's important to check the tide times. The tides can be very high, and you don't want to get stuck!
