May 3, 2026

This morning as we sailed into Sitka, Alaska it is not uncommon as it is in other parts of Alaska to see low hanging clouds like the ones we experienced upon arrival. It gives you a sense of the depth of the mountain coverage, and you never know just what might be exposed as the clouds clear.

However, when we disembarked, we were greeted with clear skies by a friendly Sitka bear. And Sitka is very well known for its bald eagles. In fact, it’s one of the best places in the U.S. to see them up close in the wild. The surrounding waters are rich in salmon and other fish, but since it was not yet the spawning season, which attracts large numbers of eagles, we did not get to see any, unless you include this large wooden one that greets everyone at the Sitka pier.

There is a tremendous Russian influence in Sitka. Russian influence in Sitka began with fur traders who were expanding east across from Siberia into Alaska. In 1799, the Russian American Company established a settlement called New Archangel (remember that fact for later), making it the center of Russian operations in North America. In 1804, Russia establishing control of the area and Sitka became the capital of Russian America.

Russia sold Alaska to the United States in 1867 in what’s known as the Alaska Purchase. Sitka briefly became the capital of U.S. Alaska.

For 92 years Alaska remained a U.S. territory and did not became a U.S. state until January 3, 1959. The reason it took so many years for Alaska to obtain statehood was because it was extremely remote and hard to develop, the population was too small, and the U.S. government questioned whether Alaska could pay for itself and not be a financial burden on the United States. Oil, discovered later in large amounts, would eventually change that perception.

It was the Cold War, however, that changed everything. Alaska is very close to Russia, then the Soviet Union. During the Cold War, it became strategically important for defense. The U.S. built military bases and infrastructure throughout Alaska. Suddenly, Alaska wasn’t just remote, it was critical to national defense.

Even today, Sitka shows clear signs of its Russian past. Orthodox churches and religious traditions remain active, architecture and street names reflect Russian origins and cultural events, and history museums preserve the story of Sitka’s Russian past.

No where is that influence more pronounced than in St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral in Sitka. (remember the new settlement being called New Archangel) St. Michaels’s is one the oldest Orthodox church in America.

When we arrived at the Information Center in Sitka a few tourists were asking; “Where is the house from The Proposal?” This was a movie starring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds and fan favorite Betty White who plays the hilarious Grandma Annie. The guests were disappointed to learn that although the movie was set in Sitka, Alaska it was mostly filmed in Massachusetts, (Manchester-by-the-Sea to be exact) with a few real Alaska shots mixed in.

That’s Hollywood for you!

Thanks for traveling with us.