the wandering chick
...Sitka

Long before the Russians and Americans walked the shores of this small seaside town, the Tlingit Indians called it home. Their culture is ever-present today, especially in the way of the Sitka National Historic Park with its totem pole-lined paths.

A strong Russian influence is also obvious, especially since the St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church sits so prominently in the middle of an otherwise small intersection of town. A highlight of this trip to Sitka was the very old Russian cemetery which isn't mentioned in Sitka's 'things to see' list. My travel partner and I found it fascinating.

a charming seaside town
Russian Orthodox church
bald eagle on church steeple
I guess the townspeople are accustomed to seeing this bald eagle sit on the church steeple every night around 5.
St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral is the earliest Orthodox church in North America, built in the 19th century when Alaska was under Russian control. A fire destroyed the church in January of 1966, but it was rebuilt at the same location and with the same measurements. The building is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
overlooking the waters
A few little islands in the Sitka waters are just large enough for a house or two, accessible by boat only, of course.
Indian Village
An older district of town, called Indian Village, is located across from the Sitka Channel.
Indian Village
house on island near Sitka
Sitka's small- boat harbor
O'Connell Bridge
The John O'Connell Bridge spans the Sitka Channel and connects Sitka's main part of town with the airport. Before the bridge was completed in 1971, the transport between the two was by ferry service only. In the distance is Mt. Edgecumbe, a dormant volcanic mountain.
Overlooking the Sitka Channel at sunset
Overlooking the Sitka channel at sunset.
the Russian Orthodox Cemetery
the Russian Orthodox Cemetery
This and the remaining shots were taken in the Russian Orthodox Cemetery which can be easily found off a side road called Observatory, near the downtown section. The cemetery shows every bit of its 200 years, and it doesn't seem to be maintained, save a rake or two found leaning against a tree. Despite that, its 1600 gravesites silently demand reverance and offer solitude .
the Russian Orthodox Cemetery
the Russian Orthodox Cemetery
the Russian Orthodox Cemetery
the Russian Orthodox Cemetery

Set in a forest of tall shady trees that barely let in the setting sun, we made our way up and down small ridges that seem to coninue forever.

Severe overgrowth of spongy lichen. Tombstones that are chipped and leaning. Names and dates that can no longer be read. These created an atmosphere that took us back in time.

the Russian Orthodox Cemetery

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Continue the Inside Passage in chronological order. The next stop is Glacier Bay.

The previous page was hopping the ferries

The Inside Passage home page

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the Russian Orthodox Cemetery

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Russian Orthodox Cemetery
Russian Orthodox Cemetery
Sitka's small-boat harbor