Sitka National Historical Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sitka National Historical Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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 Sitka National Historical Park
Location in Alaska
Sitka National Historical Park
Location in Sitka
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| Location | City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska, USA |
| Nearest city | Sitka, Alaska |
| Area | 112 acres (45 ha) |
| Established | October 18, 1972 |
| Visitors | 186,864 (in 2011) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Sitka National Historical Park |
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Sitka National Historical Park
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| Location | 106 Metlakatla Street, Sitka, Alaska |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000164 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
Sitka National Historical Park is a special place in Sitka, Alaska, USA. It was once known as Indian River Park and Totem Park. This park helps us remember the history of the Tlingit people and the Russians in Alaska. It became a national historical park on October 18, 1972.
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A Look Back: History of Sitka National Historical Park
The story of Alaska's oldest federally protected park began on June 21, 1890. That's when President Benjamin Harrison set aside the land. This land was the site of a Tlingit fort called Shis'kí Noow, which means "Sapling Fort" in the Tlingit language.
This fort was important because it was where the Battle of Sitka happened in 1804. In this battle, the native Tlingit people fought against Russian fur hunters and their Aleut allies.
Collecting Totem Poles
From 1903 to 1905, Governor John G. Brady started collecting totem poles from all over Alaska. Many of these poles came from Haida villages on Prince of Wales Island. Some had even been shown at a big event called the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
Soon, people in Sitka worried about the poles getting damaged. They also wanted to protect the park better. So, they asked the government to make it a national monument.
On March 23, 1910, President William H. Taft officially declared it the Sitka National Monument. This was done under the Antiquities Act. The goal was to protect the fort site and the amazing collection of totem poles.
When the National Park Service was created in 1916, they took care of the monument. Today, many of the totem poles you see along the park's paths are copies. The old, original poles are kept safe in storage.
The park has two miles (3.2 kilometers) of wooded paths. You can see giant Sitka spruce trees, different kinds of ferns, shrubs, and flowers. If you visit during spawning season, you might even see Salmon swimming up the Indian River!
Park Changes Over Time
In 1942, the park's 112-acre (45-hectare) area was used by the U.S. Army for defense. During this time, a lot of gravel was taken from the park's river and shoreline. This caused environmental problems for many years.
In 1947, the park was given back to the Department of the Interior. Then, in 1965, a new visitor center opened. This was the first real building for visitors. It has exhibits and shows where you can watch Alaska Native artists create crafts. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
A special agreement was made in 1969. The Alaska Native Brotherhood took over the art demonstration program. They focused on the cultural arts of Southeast Alaska Native people. This led to the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2000. Many valuable Tlingit items in the park's collection were loaned or given by local families. This helps make sure their traditions continue.
The Russian Bishop's House
About half a mile from the main park area is the Russian Bishop's House. It was built between 1841 and 1843. Tlingit workers, guided by builders from Finland, used local spruce wood to construct it.
This house is one of only four examples of Russian Colonial Style architecture left in the Western Hemisphere. Bishop Innocent (Ivan Evseyevich Popov Veniaminov) lived here until 1853. He was a clergyman, teacher, and linguist for the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Church used the building as a school, home, and church for another 100 years. But by 1969, it was in bad shape. The Park Service bought it in 1973.
Restoring the House
From 1973, the Park Service spent 16 years restoring the house. They wanted to make it look like it did in its early days. They added modern plumbing, heating, and electricity, but they made sure the building still felt old and real.
The second floor was made to look exactly like it did in 1853. This was done by studying old diaries, drawings, and things found by archaeologists. Today, you can see many exhibits and beautiful icons in the Chapel of the Annunciation. These show the history of Russian America.
The Russian Bishop's House is a National Historic Landmark. Both the house and the main park area are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
See also
In Spanish: Parque histórico nacional de Sitka para niños
