Sitka history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of Sitka (originally known as "Sheet’-ká" in the language of the indigenous people — the Tlingit) began long before the arrival of Europeans. However, as an urban settlement in the modern sense, it began to take shape at the end of the 18th century. In 1799, Alexander Baranov, the manager of the Russian-American Company, founded the Fort of Archangel Michael.

Following an armed conflict with the Tlingit people and the subsequent restoration of control over the territory in 1804, the settlement was renamed New Archangel (Novo-Arkhangelsk). The city soon received the status of the capital of Russian America, which it retained until the transfer of Alaska to the United States in 1867.

Key Factors of Development

The development of the city was determined by a unique combination of geographical and economic conditions:

• Strategic Geography: Its location on Baranof Island provided natural protection from ocean storms, while the deep-water harbour allowed for the docking of large merchant and military vessels.
• Fur Trade: The region was rich in sea otters, whose fur was highly valued in global markets. This made the city a key node in the trade chain between America, Asia, and Europe.
• Administrative Centre: The concentration of colonial administration in one place facilitated an influx of officials, officers, and skilled artisans.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

In the first half of the 19th century, Sitka was often referred to as the "Paris of the Pacific." It was the most developed settlement on the west coast of North America at that time. The city's economy was diversified: shipyards and sawmills were in operation, and there was even active trade in ice with southern regions (as far south as California).

The cultural life of the city was equally vibrant:

• Religious Centre: St. Michael's Cathedral became a stronghold of Orthodox Christianity on the continent, and missionary activities contributed to the spread of literacy.
• Science and Education: The city hosted schools, a library, and a museum, and regular meteorological observations and cartographic works were conducted.

Major Historical Milestones

• 1799: Alexander Baranov founded the Fort of Archangel Michael, the first Russian settlement in this area.
• 1802: The fortress was destroyed during an uprising of the indigenous inhabitants — the Tlingit.
• 1804: After the Battle of Sitka, Russian colonists regained control over the territory and established New Archangel.
• 1808: The city officially received the status of the capital of Russian America, becoming the centre of trade and colonial administration.
• 1848: St. Michael's Cathedral, the main Orthodox church of the region, was erected and consecrated.
• October 18, 1867: The official ceremony of the transfer of Alaska from the Russian Empire to the United States took place in the city.
• 1878: The first fish cannery in Alaska opened in Sitka, launching the industrial fishing era.
• 1890s: The city served as an important transit point during the Klondike Gold Rush.
• 1906: The capital of the Alaska Territory was officially moved from Sitka to the city of Juneau.
• 1939: Construction began on a major naval air station, leading to population growth and infrastructure development.
• 1966: A devastating fire in the city centre destroyed the historic wooden building of St. Michael's Cathedral.
• 1971: The administrative unification of the city and the borough took place, creating one of the largest municipal entities by area in the USA.
• 1976: Reconstructed according to exact blueprints, St. Michael's Cathedral was reopened to parishioners and tourists.
• 2010: Sitka National Historical Park celebrated its centennial, confirming its status as an important cultural site.

Stages of Development and Transformation

The history of Sitka is a journey from a trading outpost to a modern centre of fishing and tourism. Each of the milestones listed below played a decisive role in shaping the economic and architectural character of the city.

• Becoming the Capital of Russian America (1808):

  Granting the status of the administrative centre of the colonies turned the settlement into the "Paris of the Pacific." This stimulated the development of crafts, shipbuilding, and educational institutions, laying a cultural foundation that distinguishes the city from other Alaskan settlements.

• Transfer to US Jurisdiction (1867):

  The change of the national flag opened the region to American capital and legislation. This event marked the beginning of the integration of the local economy into the United States market, although it led to a temporary outflow of the population.

• Launch of the First Cannery (1878):

  The opening of a salmon processing facility was a turning point in the economy. Industrial fishing replaced the fur trade, becoming the main source of income and jobs for residents for many years.

• The Gold Rush (1890s):

  Although the main deposits were located further north, Sitka acted as an important transit and supply hub. The flow of prospectors revitalised trade and the service sector, contributing to the growth of small businesses and hotel infrastructure.

• Militarisation and Air Base Construction (1939):

  On the eve of World War II, a large naval air station was erected on Japonski Island. This led to the first large-scale upgrade of utility networks, the construction of a modern airport, and a sharp influx of population.

• Industrialisation: Pulp Mill (1959):

  The opening of the Alaska Lumber and Pulp Company plant marked the era of heavy industry. The enterprise became the city's economic mainstay, ensuring budget stability and attracting specialists until its closure in 1993.

• Administrative Reform (1971):

  The consolidation of the city and the surrounding area (borough) into a single municipality, the "City and Borough of Sitka," allowed for centralised management of the vast territory, optimising budget expenditures and development planning.

• Opening of the O’Connell Bridge (1972):

  The construction of the cable-stayed bridge connected the historic centre on Baranof Island with Japonski Island, where the airport, hospital, and educational institutions are located. This critical urban planning decision united the disparate parts of the city into a single infrastructure network.

Architectural Eclecticism: A Meeting of Three Cultures

The urban appearance of Sitka represents a unique blend for North America, intertwining the traditions of indigenous peoples, Russian colonial architecture, and American architecture from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Unlike typical American cities with a strict grid of streets, Sitka's layout is dictated by the complex terrain of the coastline and historical heritage, where buildings are organically integrated into the landscape between the ocean and the mountains.

Eras and Styles

The city's architecture is clearly divided into several historical layers, each leaving its mark on the urban environment:

• Russian Colonial Architecture (Late 18th – Mid 19th Century):

  This is the most recognisable layer, forming the city's tourism brand. It is characterised by the use of massive timber and traditional log construction techniques.

  • Iconic Landmark: Russian Bishop's House. This is one of the few surviving original Russian-built structures in North America. It demonstrates the adaptation of classic Russian methods to the harsh Alaskan climate.
  • Style: Russian wooden architecture with elements of classicism in the interiors.
• Russian Church Style (19th Century – 20th Century Reconstructions):

  The dominant feature of the city centre is church architecture, combining Byzantine traditions with local materials.

  • Iconic Landmark: St. Michael's Cathedral. Although the original building burned down in 1966, it was restored with absolute precision. Its green domes and golden onion-shaped crosses are the symbol of the city.
  • Style: Eclecticism with elements of Russian Baroque and Classicism.
• American Frontier and Victorian Era (Late 19th – Early 20th Century):

  After the transfer of Alaska to the USA, the city began to be built up with timber-frame houses characteristic of the West Coast at that time.

  • Iconic Landmarks: Historic residential houses on Lincoln Street with gabled roofs and decorative siding.
  • Style: Folk Victorian and Craftsman. These structures are distinguished by functionality, the use of local timber, and modest decoration.
• Institutional Classicism and Modernism (20th Century):

  With the development of the city as an administrative centre, large public buildings appeared.

  • Iconic Landmark: Sitka Pioneer Home. A monumental building located in the centre, reminiscent of palace structures but executed in the spirit of American public institutions of the early century.
  • Style: Neoclassicism with elements of Colonial Revival.

Urban Planning Features

The development of Sitka's urban environment has several characteristic features that distinguish it from other cities in Alaska:

• Orientation towards the Harbour: The historic city centre faces the sea. Main public spaces and shopping rows are concentrated along the waterfront, emphasising the role of the sea in the life of the settlement.
• Island Structure: A unique feature of the urban planning was the development not only of Baranof Island but also of the neighbouring Japonski Island. The construction of the O’Connell Bridge in 1972 became a crucial engineering solution, uniting the airport, educational, and medical institutions with the residential and historic parts of the city.
• Integration of Tlingit Culture: Elements of indigenous culture are harmoniously woven into the urban environment, particularly the totem poles in the National Historical Park, which are not merely museum exhibits but part of the landscape design.

People Who Shaped the City's History

The history of Sitka is inextricably linked with the names of rulers, spiritual leaders, chiefs, and educators. These individuals left an indelible mark on the region's culture, uniting the traditions of indigenous peoples, the heritage of Russian America, and the American spirit of entrepreneurship.

• Alexander Andreyevich Baranov
  Role: The first Chief Manager of Russian settlements in North America.
  Historical Significance: The de facto founder of the city. It was he who, in 1804, established New Archangel (now Sitka) and moved the administrative centre of Russian America here. Thanks to his managerial talent, the city turned into a prosperous trading hub of the Pacific Ocean.
• Chief Katlian (K’alyaan)
  Role: War leader of the Kiks.ádi clan (Tlingit people).
  Historical Significance: Led the indigenous resistance against colonisation during the Battle of Sitka (1804). He is revered as a national hero, a symbol of courage and resilience in defending ancestral lands. His legacy is immortalised in the Sitka National Historical Park.
• Saint Innocent (Ivan Evseyevich Veniaminov)
  Role: Bishop, enlightener, ethnographer-scientist.
  Historical Significance: Lived in Sitka for many years, personally designed and participated in the construction of St. Michael's Cathedral. He created a writing system for the Aleut and Tlingit languages, opened schools and workshops, leaving a rich cultural and scientific legacy.
• Dmitry Petrovich Maksutov
  Role: The last Chief Manager of Russian America.
  Historical Significance: Led the colony during the difficult period of its sale to the United States. He organised the official ceremony of the transfer of Alaska in Sitka in 1867 and managed the evacuation of Russian subjects, striving to ensure order and protect the interests of residents during the transition period.
• Sheldon Jackson
  Role: American missionary, educator, and collector.
  Historical Significance: Played a key role in the development of Alaska's education system after its transition to the USA. He founded an educational institution in the city (later Sheldon Jackson College) and assembled a unique collection of everyday objects of indigenous peoples, which became the basis for the state's oldest museum, located in Sitka.
• Elizabeth Peratrovich (Kaaxgal.aat)
  Role: Civil rights activist for Alaska Natives.
  Historical Significance: A graduate of Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka. Her active work led to the passing of the Anti-Discrimination Act in Alaska in 1945 — the first such legal act in the USA, predating federal legislation by nearly 20 years.