ALASKA- Sitka day two

July 26 Thursday The Tlingit have lived continuously in Stika for over 50 centuries. We visited the Sitka National Historical Park (known as Totem Park by the locals) and the adjacent Sitka Cultural Center this morning. Here, totems carved by the masterful hands of the Tlingit and Haida Indians can be seen along a pathway that meanders through the rainforest. We went on a guided walk with a young park ranger who is a member of the Tlingit tribe. Very beautiful and very interesting. This is also the place where the Russians attacked the Tlingit in 1804. There are 12 Totems on the walk. 

Tlingit Potlach (ceremonial gathering) early 1900's

Beautiful path through Totem walk

Totem pole on the walk- Totems often told family history

Memorial totem usually for a tribal leader- burial urn  was placed in the bottom of pole

 

We also visited the Russian Bishop's House which is another site in the Sitka National Historical Park. The first Russian Bishiop in Sitka was known as Bishop Innocent and earned the respect of the Tlingit people converting many to the Russian Orthodox Religion. 

Russian Bishop's House

Also saw Saint Michael's Catherdral which was a Russian Orthodox Church built in 1844-48. It burned to the ground in January 1966. Many of the icons & religious objects were salvaged & are in the rebuilt structure.

St. Michael's Cathedral at the end of Main Street

We will be up early in the morning to catch the 5:45am ferry. We will travel to Ketchikan which is a 24 hour trip! This will be our last stop in Alaska-- can you believe it? The next ferry will take us to Prince Rupert, Canada and we will head to Washington – should take about 3 days from there and we will be back in the lower 48!!