Welcome to the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society
We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit in Sitka, Alaska dedicated to preserving and sharing our region's rich maritime heritage. We are grateful to be able to share the rich heritage of this land of the Tlingit people since time immemorial.
Our main project is the rehabilitation of the Japonski Island Boathouse, a WWII Navy boat shop and marine railway, as a working maritime heritage center.
We produce a great newsletter full of historical and other articles on our maritime heritage, photographs and articles on Sitka's maritime history, a history blog, oral history programs and videos, activities, classes and other programs on maritime history, heritage and skills.
Join us! Become a member; contribute to our capital campaign; buy a t-shirt or hat!
THANK YOU to our members, donors and sponsors!
Our main project is the rehabilitation of the Japonski Island Boathouse, a WWII Navy boat shop and marine railway, as a working maritime heritage center.
We produce a great newsletter full of historical and other articles on our maritime heritage, photographs and articles on Sitka's maritime history, a history blog, oral history programs and videos, activities, classes and other programs on maritime history, heritage and skills.
Join us! Become a member; contribute to our capital campaign; buy a t-shirt or hat!
THANK YOU to our members, donors and sponsors!
Wednesday January 18th: "1920: Murder in Chatham Strait" Dessert Fundraiser
Tickets Here and at Old Harbor Books
Tickets are on sale Here and at Old Harbor Books for a history and dessert fundraiser “1920: Murder in Chatham Strait.” Juneau author Betsy Longenbaugh and Ed Schoenfeld will give a well researched and fascinating presentation on a true historical crime involving floating entertainers. Their presentation sheds light on the world, and underworld, of ostensibly "dry" (as in, no alcohol) maritime Alaska in the 1920s.
Along with enjoying this exclusive, fascinating presentation, you get an elegant dessert by Wild Flour bakery.
This event will be 7 to 9 pm on Wednesday January 18th at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Tickets for this fundraiser are $35 and include the dessert by Wild Flour Bakery.
Betsy Longenbaugh is a former newspaper reporter, originally from Sitka, and author of Forgotten Murders from Alaska's Capital. For more information, email sitkamaritime@gmail.com or call (907) 623-8054.
Along with enjoying this exclusive, fascinating presentation, you get an elegant dessert by Wild Flour bakery.
This event will be 7 to 9 pm on Wednesday January 18th at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Tickets for this fundraiser are $35 and include the dessert by Wild Flour Bakery.
Betsy Longenbaugh is a former newspaper reporter, originally from Sitka, and author of Forgotten Murders from Alaska's Capital. For more information, email sitkamaritime@gmail.com or call (907) 623-8054.
Click Here for Winter 2022 Newsletter
Toy Boat Building is Back!
Some 4H kids learning woodworking for preparing boat kits for the event. Photo Jasmine Shaw
Toy Boats Event was December 17
We once again held a free toy boat making and decorating event for children at the Boathouse. This year we partnered with Sitka 4H, and so we had some good times with youth learning woodworking and sharing some good jokes. The event itself was just as much fun, seeing the smiles and creativity of Sitka's up and coming youth.
Starting Again Spring/Summer 2023:
Maritime History Walking Tour
- 1 1/2 hour
- historic downtown and waterfront
- The real, surprising story of Sitka, Tlingit America, Yankee Traders, Russians, U.S. Army and Missionaries
- knowledgeable local guide
- historic images to compare with now
- $40 adults, $30 teens
Call or email for custom tours
- historic downtown and waterfront
- The real, surprising story of Sitka, Tlingit America, Yankee Traders, Russians, U.S. Army and Missionaries
- knowledgeable local guide
- historic images to compare with now
- $40 adults, $30 teens
Call or email for custom tours
Pub Talk October 16th 7 pm Mean Queen:
"Alexander Baranov The Man The Myth"
Link to written presentation Here
Photo October 11 2021 by James Poulson, Daily Sitka Sentinel
The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society presents “Alexander Baranov, The Man, The Myth,” 7 pm Sunday, October 16th at the Mean Queen downstairs. This presentation starts with what is actually known about Alexander Baranov (1747-1819) in Indigenous America, and traces the myth through embellishment in the 1880s, wholesale invention in the 1920s, and how the myth persists to this day. For more information contact sitkamaritime@gmail.com.
Link to the presentation (written) here.
Link to the presentation (written) here.
Open House, WWII Presentation and Tour
1-3 pm Saturday August 20th
An aerial view of Japonski, Alice and Charcoal Island in 1967. Come find out what, why and how the military built, and what remains!
The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society offered a free presentation and short history walk on August 20, about the Navy and Army buildup on Japonski and neighboring islands during WWII and what can be seen today
For much of this information, go to the Maritime History tab on this site.
Portions of Sitka’s WWII defense installations are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Sitka Naval Operating Base and U.S. Army Coastal Defenses National Historic Landmark, a designation for properties of national historical significance.
There was also an open house at the Boathouse with information about recent work on the building and future plans. Recent work on the building is supported in part by a federal Historic Preservation Fund Certified Local Government grant, through the Alaska State Office of History and Archaeology to the City and Borough of Sitka.
For more information, email us at sitkamaritime at gmail.com.
For much of this information, go to the Maritime History tab on this site.
Portions of Sitka’s WWII defense installations are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Sitka Naval Operating Base and U.S. Army Coastal Defenses National Historic Landmark, a designation for properties of national historical significance.
There was also an open house at the Boathouse with information about recent work on the building and future plans. Recent work on the building is supported in part by a federal Historic Preservation Fund Certified Local Government grant, through the Alaska State Office of History and Archaeology to the City and Borough of Sitka.
For more information, email us at sitkamaritime at gmail.com.
This quilt, titled A Beacon Bright, designed and created by Joanna Perensovich, was the top prize for a raffle drawn March 24.
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Raffle Winners Announced
Thank you to all who purchased raffle tickets. All proceeds go to supporting SMHS programming.
Sitka artist Joanna Perensovich designed and created this gorgeous quilt as a fund raiser for the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society. This quilt, titled A Beacon Bright, was the top prize for the raffle drawn on March 24, 2022. |
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Left, an image of the painting HMS Resolution, by marine painter Steve Mayo. Second draw for the raffle was a print of this painting, professionally framed and ready to hang.
Third draw for the raffle was a hand held VHF marine radio, donated by LFS Marine Supplies. |
Click Here for Winter 2021 Newsletter
Look What We've Accomplished!
One Historic Preservation Grant Wrapped Up, and a New One Awarded
The wall before rebuilding. The windows were all rebuilt a few years ago.
Carefully removing the original siding, after marking and photographing it in place.
We built door jambs, rebuilt doors, and did the tear-out in preparation for rebuilding the northeast wall and siding the addition over the course of last winter. We sanded and primed hundreds of feet of our custom spruce siding. Then this spring we carefully removed siding and made repairs to the framing. On May 8 we started on adding sheathing (the original building had none), we have flashed the window and door openings, put up tar paper infiltration barrier, breather strips and finally, the new siding. There was so little of the original siding that could be reused, we decided to have an exhibit of it on the interior of the building.
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With the shut down due to COVID 19, we focused on work on the building, with small, socially-distanced work parties Saturday mornings since late summer of 2020.
We put our labor toward a match for a Historic Preservation Fund grant which successfully wrapped up in June of 2021, for rebuilding the wall, putting siding on the addition, getting windows made for the addition, and starting on steps and ramps. Thanks to skilled and able volunteers, we have completely rebuilt the wall, doors and door jambs, the siding is on the addition and our new windows installed! We are now putting on the last pieces of siding, what on a boat might be called the "whiskey planks." Still left to do to wrap it up for winter is to reinstall the old windows; we are adding jamb extensions for the added thickness of the wall. We will also install the rebuilt doors and new door jambs. More Photos Here
Starting on adding new sheathing - the building originally had none.
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Left, our first public work party, taking off the old siding; right, May 8, 2021 first pieces of sheathing.
The last line of siding - cut out for the rafters.
New Grant Awarded
In early October, 2021, a grant from the Historic Preservation Fund for work on the Japonski Island Boathouse was officially authorized, through the City and Borough of Sitka as a Certified Local Government. This grant is to rebuild the main opening on the beach side of the building, rebuild the wall next to the addition, build decks, stairs and ramps, and start on installing an accessible restroom in the addition.
So we are keeping right along with the volunteer work, all of which can be used as match on this grant! |
The Japonski Island Boat Shop, after installation of our new, custom windows in the addition.
Installing the windows in the addition.
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Interested in lending a hand, or donating to the project? Drop a line to sitkamaritime@gmail.com or use the form below!
Thank You Sitka Legacy Fund!
The Sitka Legacy Foundation is an affiliate of the Alaska Community Foundation, with a mission to "connect people who care, with causes that matter."'
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Thank You to the Sitka Legacy Foundation, for a grant for building accessible ramps and landings for the Boathouse.
This coming season (2022) we will be doing work on the walls of the original boathouse and doing work to put an accessible restroom in the addition, putting in our newly-widened doors and jambs in the exhibit wing, to make this building ready for occupancy by the public. This grant will be used with a grant from the Sitka Rotary Club (see below) for constructing the ramps and landings that will make this building fully accessible. Thank you. |
Self-Guided Maritime History Walking Tour
Coming Soon: Guided Walking Tours
Share your ideas and comments on our new Survey
Join SMHS or Renew Your Membership now
(valid through 03/2023):
Apply for the Board!
If you’d like to be even more involved in shaping the direction moving forward, we are looking for new board members. Do you have an interest in creating world class maritime heritage programs in an authentic WWII boat shop? Drop us a line by email or fill out this form to apply.
Fourth of July History Cruise Was Fun
The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society offered a History and Wildlife Cruise on Sunday, July 4 from 3:45 to 6:15 pm.
We had some Sitka maritime history, and of course, Allen Marine found us incredible wildlife, like feeding whales, and amazing birds!
Thank you to Allen Marine and to all who joined us on this unforgettable experience.
We had some Sitka maritime history, and of course, Allen Marine found us incredible wildlife, like feeding whales, and amazing birds!
Thank you to Allen Marine and to all who joined us on this unforgettable experience.
Open House Was June 26
The public was invited to view the work on the Japonski Island Boathouse NE wall at an open house, at the Japonski Island Boathouse, on Saturday, June 26th. We enjoyed coffee and snacks, information on methods of historic preservation, and artifacts and photos.
This work was supported in part by the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and the State of Alaska Office of History & Archaeology, as well as by our business sponsors, and our members!
This work was supported in part by the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and the State of Alaska Office of History & Archaeology, as well as by our business sponsors, and our members!
Thank You Rotary!
Thank you Sitka Rotary Club! among all the great work this group does, they have given the SMHS a grant to help us build an accessibility ramp on the NE side of the Japonski Island Boatshop, where we will have our history exhibit and multi-use space.
These funds come from their annual Duck Race, contact them to find out how to get your tickets! Thank You Harry Race!
Sitka Maritime Heritage Society board member Joe D'Arienzo poses with Vanessa and Mia of Harry Race with a check representing January's tip jar! Thank You!!!!
Toy Boat Kits for Children Launched
Here are some pictures of the additions to the Sitka fleet and their young builders!
Thank you to everyone who ordered a boat kit, and especially for the generous donations and memberships.
We will definitely be doing this next year, in person! Here is a link to the Raven Radio interview from December 3, which has some other updates and info about the SMHS. Robert Modrell Photo Gallery and History
Dedication of the Shore Boat Arrrowhead, whose hull was repaired and superstructure built by students of Bob Modrell at Mt. Edgecumbe High School.
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2021 Annual Meeting 7-8:30 pm March 17th
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Winter 2020 Newsletter Features Fishing a Vintage Wooden Boat
Eadweard Muybridge Retakes - 1868 to 2017
In 2017, James Poulson went to the places where Eadweard Muybridge took photographs in 1868. Check out this and more on our Photos and Articles page.
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Check Out the Draft Sitka Maritime History Walking Tour!
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In the News: Spruce Siding Delivered!
CUSTOM DELIVERY – Laura Bennett, executive director of Sitka Maritime Heritage Society, right, watches as crew of the M/V Otter, Captain Thomas Sigmond, Adina Scott and Micheal Janicki, unload a shipment of wooden siding from the WWII-era boat Thursday at the sea wall on Katlian Street. The wood was custom milled last year at Tenakee Springs to match the shiplap siding on the WWII era Japonski Island Boathouse. It will be used to replace sections of worn out siding and to sheath a new addition. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Want to get involved?
Subscribe to our email list to be notified of upcoming events and new volunteer opportunities.
In 2020 . . .
We were fortunate to hold our Annual Meeting, on "Close Calls and Lessons Learned" at the historic ANB Founders Hall just before gatherings like this had to be postponed.
Since then, we've put that and other videos on line; check out the talk at the Mean Queen a couple years back with the late Richark K. Nelson and our own Josh Wisnewski, finding common inspiration and gratitude from hunting experts who shared their knowledge with them, 40 years apart, in Northwest Alaska.
We distributed toy boat kits to families to build at home; we created a History Blog, and filled it with the narratives of two, different fox-farming fishing families of the Goddard area in the 1920s and 1930s.
We now have a really great boating checklist, the first comprehensive yet handy list we've found, generated out of our annual meeting; we even published three newsletters, with some interesting local maritime content.
We downsized our work parties to provide ample social distance. We were awarded a Historic Preservation Fund grant by the Alaska Historical Commission, administered through the City and Borough of Sitka as a Certified Local Government. Those work parties have been going on most Saturdays; if you are interested, please contact us - we are using skilled volunteers right now, but maybe you have what we need!
Check out some photos from this year's work here, including images of our shipment of Sitka spruce siding!
Check out the new history narrative, to be a Walking Tour of Sitka, featuring the 1800s history that is hard to find.
In December we published a newsletter, and our toy boat making event was transformed into kits to do at home! Joe D'Arienzo led the way in making 87 kits! Stay tuned for pictures of the creative transformation of those kits into vessels by our kids!
In the new year, we'll be launching a survey for you to weigh in on ideas for next year.
A board member recently moved away, meaning we have an opening! If you are interested, drop us a line by email or call!
And thanks again, to our members, donors and sponsors. Your support is essential as we apply for grants and to do the work!
Since then, we've put that and other videos on line; check out the talk at the Mean Queen a couple years back with the late Richark K. Nelson and our own Josh Wisnewski, finding common inspiration and gratitude from hunting experts who shared their knowledge with them, 40 years apart, in Northwest Alaska.
We distributed toy boat kits to families to build at home; we created a History Blog, and filled it with the narratives of two, different fox-farming fishing families of the Goddard area in the 1920s and 1930s.
We now have a really great boating checklist, the first comprehensive yet handy list we've found, generated out of our annual meeting; we even published three newsletters, with some interesting local maritime content.
We downsized our work parties to provide ample social distance. We were awarded a Historic Preservation Fund grant by the Alaska Historical Commission, administered through the City and Borough of Sitka as a Certified Local Government. Those work parties have been going on most Saturdays; if you are interested, please contact us - we are using skilled volunteers right now, but maybe you have what we need!
Check out some photos from this year's work here, including images of our shipment of Sitka spruce siding!
Check out the new history narrative, to be a Walking Tour of Sitka, featuring the 1800s history that is hard to find.
In December we published a newsletter, and our toy boat making event was transformed into kits to do at home! Joe D'Arienzo led the way in making 87 kits! Stay tuned for pictures of the creative transformation of those kits into vessels by our kids!
In the new year, we'll be launching a survey for you to weigh in on ideas for next year.
A board member recently moved away, meaning we have an opening! If you are interested, drop us a line by email or call!
And thanks again, to our members, donors and sponsors. Your support is essential as we apply for grants and to do the work!
Boathouse 2020 Capital Campaign
This year we were excited to kickoff our Boathouse 2020 Capital Campaign, with the goal of raising funds to match larger foundation grants to complete and open to the public with regularly scheduled programming and events for the community. Boathouse 2020 will allow the Boathouse to be filled with life and activity on a full-time basis!
A Few Highlights from 2019 - to see pictures from 2020 and more go to Events and Boathouse pages!
Knots WorkshopIn April 2019, we were proud to present “The Knots You Need” a workshop on some of the most widely used and essential knots for any mariner (or everyday life!). Instructor and Board Member, Stan Barge did a fantastic job of guiding participants – many of whom were novices – through progressively more complicated knots. The group started with a square knot and worked up to a trucker’s hitch! All participants went home with an illustrated booklet of how to tie each knot learned (plus a few more advanced knots) and line to practice on. Look out for more hands-on workshops from SMHS!
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4th of July CruiseThe sun and wildlife were out for our 4th of July cruise this year! During the outbound trip, Rebecca Poulson took us on a fascinating journey through Sitka’s history with her talk on shipbuilding at Sitka, and once we reached St. Lazaria, naturalist Matt Goff made the journey even more special by sharing his wealth of wildlife knowledge with our passengers.
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2019 Boathouse Work Parties
The Japonski Island Boathouse is looking a bit different these days through the support of a Historic Preservation Fund grant. This Spring, a new addition shell was built, which will eventually serve as the main entrance to the Boathouse as well as house bathrooms and office space. Additionally, the main Southwest wall of the original building has received a facelift with the help of many, many volunteers. Each original piece of siding was carefully numbered and removed, then insulation, plywood sheathing and an infiltration barrier were installed. The original, repainted boards were then refastened to the building, with a few new replacement boards, milled to match the originals, taking the place of earlier repairs. This work makes the wall sturdier and weatherproof. So much effort has gone into doing this work on the wall and it’s great to know that it’s just as improved on the inside as it looks on the outside! Thank you so much to all of the dedicated community volunteers who have donated their time and skills to this project!
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Don Sineti at the BeakThis October we had a great time gathering at The Beak for an evening of sea chanteys by Don Sineti, organized together with Sitka Whalefest.
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Earthquake: RevisitedFor the Alaska Day 2019 theme of "Frontier First Responders" we invited the community to the library for a viewing of a video of stories told by Sitkans about their experiences during the 1964 earthquake, followed by discussion by Larry Calvin and stories from the audience. It was great to see how many folks came out for the event and were eager to participate and share.
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