Camping in Sitka National Historical Park

Discover Alaska's native Tlingit culture. Explore the towering totem poles on Sitka Island, which is part of the larger Glacier Bay National Park. You will see how rich native cultures lived in harmony with the land. They also stood up to Russian invaders before Alaska became an American territory in the 1860s.

Hiking trails take you through the park's 113 acres. Keep an eye out for 20 gigantic totem poles, some more than 100 years old, that sit throughout the park along Totem Trail. Some totems were on display at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, while native Tlingit people carved another to commemorate the bicentennial of the United States. Each totem tells a story, and each one is sacred to native culture.

The purpose of Sitka National Historical Park is to remember a battle fought in 1804 between the native Tlingits and Russian invaders. The Tlingits held off the Russians to give their people enough time to evacuate under the cover of darkness. The Tlingits only retreated when they ran out of gunpowder. Daily, Ranger-led tours during the summer take visitors to the place where the Tlingit fortifications once stood. Now, it's just an open field.

Sitka forms a vital cultural center for native Tlingit people in this part of Alaska. Summertime carving demos and cultural displays tell the story of the natives here. Include a trip to Sitka from your camping home base in Glacier Bay. There's a Junior Ranger program for kids, and there's plenty of natural scenery throughout the park.