From Russia With Love. Alaska (USA Part iii Chapter 2)

Flag of Alaska

Many apologies to everyone! I have been in the process of moving into a new flat, and it has taken a little longer than first thought.

Alaska was bought off the Russians for 2 cents per acre at the very end of the 19th century. It has been American ever since. Despite that Russian influences still abound in the State and are very much in plain sight. No where is this more obvious that on the Aleutian Islands.

The Russian occupation of Alaska began in the 1700s when Russian  explorers like Vitus Bering started to travel further into the area, and when fur traders began to settle on islands such as Unalaska, which is situated in the Aleutian Island archipelago.

These days, Unalaska offers tourist and visitors a glimpse of that era with the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of  the Holy Ascension. Built in 1825, complete with red roofs, and green onion domes and a small  churchyard, the church was declared a National Historic Landmark way back in 1970. It was restored in 1998, and now houses one of the largest collections of religious artifacts and icons in the USA.

Kodiak from the air

As the trade in furs developed more Russians settled in the area and the first permanent Russian settlement in Alaska was founded in 1784 by Gregory Shelikoff and his fur company on Kodiak Island. Eight years later the settlement was moved to the area where present day Kodiak is now situated

With its Russian street names (yes even now!) Kodiak still retains its Russian flavour and heritage. The Baronov Museum, a warehouse built in the 1790s by Alexander Baronov to store furs, is the oldest remaining Russian built structure in the State. The museum houses a fine collection of artifacts of Kodiak's time as a Russian settlement.

Other Russian themed attractions include the Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church established in 1794 complete now with icons and references to Saint Herman, the first priest to be canonized in the USA. There is also the Veniaminov Research Institute Museum which displays bibles and icons used by the Orthodox missionaries in the 1800s.

An annual Kodiak event at Monks Lagoon celebrates the canonization of Father Herman and the Saint Herman's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kodiak is named in his honour.

1799 in the middle of the Russian fur trade boom, Alexander Baranov, the successor to Gregory Shelikoff  established another settlement called New Archangel which went onto become the capital of Russian America. Over the intervening years New Archangel lost its place as capital and evolved into the modern day city of Sitka.

Mount Edgecumbe. Sitka.

Sitka is located on the coast of Baranof Island. The city has one of the most dramatic backdrops of any place in the world, Mount Edgecumbe. Pride of the Sitka is St Michael's Cathedral, a bright blue, onion domed Russian Orthodox Church that dominates Sitka's skyline. Although the original cathedral built in 1844 was destroyed by fire in 1966, it was rebuilt and has an active congregation that still worships there today. The Cathedral houses many icons and relics that were rescued from the fire.

In the Lutheran cemetery the grave of Russian Princess Maksoutoff, the wife of Alaska's last Russian governor, Dimitri Maksoutoff. Russia's reign over Alaska was coming to an end. By the early 1800s Americans were starting to take more and more of the fur trade established by the Russians. In 1867 Russian America came to an end when the USA spent US$7,200,000 and bought Alaska.

Totem pole at Sitka National Historical Park. Alaska

The Russian Bishops House, now part of Sitka National Historical Park, is the oldest Russian building in Sitka. Built in 1842 for the Bishop Ivan Veniaminov, now Saint Innocentof the Orthodox Church,the house and surroundings have been restored to reflect its time as a school, chapel and residence.

The 107 acre Sitka National Historical Park interprets the site of the battle between the Tlingits and the Russians in 1804. Battles between the indigenous peoples and Russians were disastrous for the Alaska natives. The Tlingit people paid a heavy price for the foreign diseases and germs bought over by the Russians.

Where to stay:
There are numerous hotels, motels and B&Bs throughout the Aleutian Islands to find the best reviews and tariffs, just click on:

www.globaltraveldeals.biz

How to get there:
The easiest way to get to and around Alaska (because of its sheer size) is by air. For all the best deals, again click on:

www.globaltraveldeals.biz

Lastly.....
Because of the heavy influence of Russia this post was supposed to give you some of the other side of Alaska.
In chapter 3 of Alaska I'll be looking at the other areas of this huge State.

Bon Voyage!