Yukon Island facts for kids
 Yukon Island
Location in Alaska
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Kachemak Bay |
| Coordinates | 59°31′21″N 151°29′36″W / 59.52250°N 151.49333°W |
| Highest elevation | 43 ft (13.1 m) |
| Administration | |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Kenai Peninsula Borough |
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Yukon Island Main Site
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Excavations at the Yukon Island Main Site
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| Location | Address restricted |
| Nearest city | Homer, Alaska |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000955 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 29, 1962 |
Yukon Island is a small island in Alaska, located in Kachemak Bay. This bay is an inlet of the larger Cook Inlet in south-central Alaska. The island is about 9 miles (14 km) south of the town of Homer. Yukon Island is very important for understanding the history of the area. Many ancient sites have been found here, showing how people lived long ago. The Yukon Island Main Site is a special place called a National Historic Landmark. Here, an archaeologist named Frederica de Laguna discovered a lot about 1,500 years of the region's past. Today, the island is also home to a learning center.
About Yukon Island
Yukon Island is covered in thick forests. It is about 1 mile (1.6 km) wide and 1.3 miles (2.1 km) long. The island has rocky shores with steep cliffs that are slowly wearing away. Inside, you'll find many sitka spruce and hemlock trees. The highest point on the island is about 500 feet (152 meters) high.
In 1964, a big earthquake hit Alaska. This caused Yukon Island to sink by about 2 feet (0.6 meters). This sinking led to more erosion along its coastlines.
The island sits near the southern entrance of Kachemak Bay. This bay is full of different plants and animals, much more than the open waters of Cook Inlet. Yukon Island's location was very helpful for small boats traveling along the coast in the past.
Discovering Ancient History
The most important historical site on the island, called the Main Site, was found in 1924. At that time, ancient human remains were discovered in a "shell midden." A shell midden is like a giant pile of old shells and other trash left by people who lived there long ago.
In the 1930s, an archaeologist named Frederica de Laguna studied this site very carefully. Her work helped her create a timeline of how people used the island for 1,500 years. Her discoveries were very important and helped other researchers understand the history of the whole region.
Because of its importance, the Yukon Island Main Site was named a National Historic Landmark in 1962. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The 1964 earthquake caused some damage to this site, and it continues to be affected by erosion.
In 1976, more surveys of the island found five other shell midden sites. One of these, called SEL-041, has a midden that is 12 feet (3.7 meters) deep! This site seems to have been part of an ancient village. Scientists have used carbon dating to figure out that this village was active between the years 1100 and 1300 CE.
Yukon Island Center
The Yukon Island Center is a special place for learning and retreats. It is located on a small part of the island. The center was planned in the 1970s, but its construction was delayed. This happened because more ancient sites were found where they wanted to build!
The center finally opened in 1991. It welcomes groups of 50 to 60 people for educational programs.
 | Mary Eliza Mahoney |
 | Susie King Taylor |
 | Ida Gray |
 | Eliza Ann Grier |
