New Russia (trading post) facts for kids
|
New Russia Site
|
|
 Location in Alaska
|
|
| Location | South of Kardy Lake, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southwest of Yakutat |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Yakutat, Alaska |
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1796 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001593 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | June 02, 1978 |
New Russia (also known as Novarassi or Yakutat Colony) was a small settlement built by Russians in 1796. It was located in what is now Yakutat Borough, Alaska. This place was used as a trading post to collect animal furs. It was also a place where some people were sent for punishment or forced labor.
The settlement was likely named after a Russian ship called Slava Rossii, which means "Glory of Russia." In 1805, the Tlingit people attacked and destroyed New Russia. The site was never rebuilt after that. Today, the New Russia site is an important archaeological site. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1978.
Contents
What Was New Russia?
New Russia was a key spot for the Russian-American Company. This company was a big Russian trading group. They set up many outposts and settlements in Alaska. These stretched as far south as Old Sitka.
The Russians even thought about making New Russia the capital of Russian America. This was the name for the lands Russia claimed in North America.
How It Started
In 1794, a Russian leader named Alexander Baranov bought the land for New Russia. He bought it from the local Tlingit people. The plan was to start building the settlement in 1795.
However, the Tlingits were not happy with a Russian hunting group sent ahead. So, the settlement plan was put on hold. Finally, in June 1796, a group of 192 Russians arrived. They built two large log buildings, a strong fence called a palisade, and a blockhouse for defense.
Life at the Settlement
By 1805, New Russia had grown quite a bit. There were seven buildings inside the palisade. Five more buildings were outside the main fence. The settlement even had a small shipyard where they built two boats.
However, the Tlingit people still saw the settlers as a threat. They sometimes attacked Russian hunting parties. In 1802, the Tlingits launched a big attack on another Russian settlement. This one was called Redoubt St. Archangel Michael, and it was destroyed.
The Attack and Its End
Alexander Baranov, the Russian leader, planned a response to the 1802 attack. He used New Russia as a starting point for his operation in 1804. This led to the founding of present-day Sitka.
But in 1805, the Tlingit people attacked the New Russia settlement itself. The entire settlement was burned to the ground. Most of its occupants, except for a few women and children, lost their lives. After this terrible event, the site was never settled by Russians again.
What Remains Today?
The site of New Russia is on the Phipps Peninsula, near the city of Yakutat. This area is a swampy piece of land next to Yakutat Bay. The settlement was built on the south side of the peninsula. It was between the Pacific Ocean and some saltwater lakes called the Ankau Saltchucks.
Today, the site is covered by a thick forest. You can't see much evidence of the old settlement. In 1971, during an archaeological survey, only a single log wall section was found. However, archaeologists have found other things underground. There's a layer of charcoal, which shows a big fire happened there. People in the area have also reported finding cannonballs and pieces of iron.
After the attack, the Tlingit people successfully kept the Russians out of Yakutat Bay. The area didn't get much attention for a long time. American traders who visited in the 1870s noticed that trees about 2 feet (0.61 m) wide were growing out of the old cellar holes. The New Russia site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It was then named a National Historic Landmark in 1978.
