June 17, 2013 - Sitka

We arrived in Sitka tired from the long passage of 85 miles.  We contacted the Harbor Master but he was busy with the yacht "Cocktails" who had pulled in just before us.  We decided to just pull into an end tie but the Harbor Master called us back and assigned a slip much closer to town. We went ashore checked in with the Harbor Master. I rented a car over the phone,we walked downtown and had lunch.  Louie and Daniel had a beer at a local Pub while I took a cab to the airport to pick up a car at Avis.  I picked up the guys and we returned to the boat. We enjoyed our dinner of Fresh Halibut Stir Fry and Chocolate Mousse for dessert.

I noticed this sign when picking up our rental car at the Avis Rental Car Counter at the airport.
ONLY IN ALASKA!

 We had a great visit to the Sheldon Jackson Museum. It was established in 1895 and is Alaska's oldest museum. Collected from 1880 - 1900 it is the largest collection of Alaska Native artifacts in the state.           Absolutely fascinating!!!    

Emily Johnston (her Christian name) is a resident of the village of Yup'ik on Nunivak Island, in the Aleutian Island Chain AK.  Her art is made from shells, Sea Otter fur, and her baskets are made from the grasses  of Nunivak Island.

Emily's daughter is currently in University receiving her Master's Degree. Her Yup'ik Eskimo Art along with government grants helped put her daughter through school.

There are thousands of personal artifacts of the Native populations of the region.

Children's doll clothes made in the exact image of the adult clothing out of fish skin and seal gut.

Children's Boots made from seal skin.

Carved Ceremonial Serving Dishes

Women's shoes with beautiful intricate beading.

Ceremonial head dress representing the Raven.

St. Michaels the Archangel Russian Orthodox Cathedral originally built in 1844  by  Bishop Innocent Veniaminov. The original building burned to the ground in a devastating fire in 1966. This is an exact replica that was re-built that same year.

Bishop Innocent Veniaminov, born in 1797, translated scriptures into Tlingit and other Native languages and trained deacons to carry Russian Orthodoxy back to their Native villages therefore contributing greatly to their survival.

I find this Totem Pole very interesting. It represents the arrival of the white man with his Russian Orthodox religious doctrines. The pole figure has the doctrines in one hand and A GUN IN THE OTHER!

In the center of town there is a large covered building where fisherman can repair their nets.

We returned to Eliason Harbor in time for the sunset.

Mt. Edgecumbe glows in the evening light of sunset. This dormant volcano last erupted 8,000 years ago.

Everywhere we looked the view was bathed in pinks and purples.

In the last throws of sunset the sky was set on fire!

Another beautiful day in Sitka Alaska