Murder Cove facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Murder Cove
Cove
Whale at mooring, August 1910
Murder Cove Location in Alaska
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)

Murder Cove is a special place located at the very southern tip of Admiralty Island in Alaska, a state in the United States. This cove was once home to the Tyee Company whaling station. It was a busy spot for whaling (hunting whales) from 1907 to 1913.

History of Murder Cove

Why is it Called Murder Cove?

The name "Murder Cove" might sound scary, but it comes from an event that happened in 1869. Two gold prospectors were killed in the area. This happened after some conflicts between groups. In response, a U.S. Navy ship called the USS Saginaw destroyed three villages and two forts near a place called Kake, Alaska. This event is known as the Kake War.

Whaling Operations at the Cove

Tyee Company whaling station, August 1910

Whale tied up at the float

Tyee Company whaling station, July 1911

Tyee Company whaling station, 1910

Whale oil tanks at Tyee Company whaling station, July 1911

Flensing a whale at the Tyee Co. whaling station

Whales tied to moorings at the Tyee Company whaling station, photo by John Nathan Cobb

The Tyee Company set up their whaling station at Murder Cove in 1907. They chose this spot because the waters of southeast Alaska were full of whales. They used a special ship called the "Tyee Junior." It was 97 feet long and was the first American-built steam-powered ship designed for whaling. It even had a harpoon gun on its front!

However, after a few years, the number of whales started to go down. Because of this, the Tyee Company had to close its operations in 1913.

Coal Exploration in the Area

Around 1905, people explored for coal in southeastern Alaska, including at Murder Cove. They found a layer of coal about 5 feet thick, located 2 miles from deep water. Even though this coal was of good quality, there wasn't enough of it to make mining worthwhile. A lighthouse was built at Murder Cove in 1914 to help guide ships.

Geography of Murder Cove

Location

Murder Cove is a narrow inlet that stretches for about 2 miles. Inside the entrance, there are several small islands. The channel then gets narrower, about 300 feet wide, before opening up into a larger body of water. At high tide, this wider part is about 0.5 miles wide and 1 mile long.

This area forms a safe harbor for ships that are not too large. Near the rocky entrance of the bay is Surprise Harbor. It offers a secure place to anchor and provides amazing views of the surrounding area.