Sitka National Historical Park – Alaska
On our second trip to Alaska, we made the effort to travel to Sitka, and this town did not disappoint. When the ferry glided into this quaint harbor town, it felt as though we had arrived somewhere different from anywhere else in the state. Walking its streets, we paused at shop windows filled with Russian icons and Orthodox imagery, reminders that Alaska once belonged to Russia and that Sitka was once the colonial capital.
That blend of cultures was what drew us there. I was especially eager to visit Sitka National Historical Park, famous for its forested trails lined with towering carved poles. The totems speak to an even deeper history: stories of the Tingit people and legends rendered in cedar and painted in bold reds, blues and blacks. Walking those paths felt like stepping into another era.
As we walked the trails, we came upon something we hadn’t expected at all. From a small wooden bridge, we looked down and saw salmon powering upstream. We stood there watching nation’s cycle unfold feet away.
It was one of those perfect travel surprises, history in every direction, cultures layered one upon another, and then the spectacle of the natural world stealing the spotlight. Sitka gave us Russian roots, indigenous artistry and a front row seat to Alaska’s wilderness – all in one single day.
Some towns tell their stories in museums. Sitka tells them with harbor views, carved cedar polls and salmon choked streams. It was a reminder of why we keep traveling to places like this. Here the past and present meet, and where curiosity is rewarded with something unexpected and unforgettable.
Read More From Nancy
Pony Express National Historic Trail – Nebraska
In the wide-open landscapes of the American West, communication was once slow, uncertain, and often perilous. Long before telegraph wires stretched across the continent, letters were the only way to stay connected across the plains, deserts and mountain ranges. Carrying the mail by horseback became one of the boldest experiments in frontier logistics ever attempted. This […]
Salem Maritime National Historic Site – Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, many visitors come to Salem searching for the echoes of the 1692 witch trials. But along the waterfront stands another Salem story, older in infrastructure, broader in reach and foundational to the young nation’s economy. The Salem Maritime National Historic Site preserves nearly nice acres along the harbor that reflect Salem’s extraordinary maritime […]
Frederick Douglas National Historic Site – Washington DC
When we travel for business, we always hope to explore something nearby, whether it be the nature of something historic. There is something grounding about stepping outside the seminar room and into the story of a place. We look for something special, something that belongs uniquely to that area. Frederick Douglas’ home was one of those […]
