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 book or hat!
THANK YOU to our members, donors and sponsors!
Toy Boat Building for Kids
1-3 pm Saturday, December 16
Click Here to Reserve a Kit for Your Kid
Photo by James Poulson, Daily Sitka Sentinel, of young boatbuilder at event in 2022
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Click Here For Newsletter Winter 2023
The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society invites the public to a walking tour and open house 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday December 2 at the Japonski Island Boathouse. There will be hot cocoa, coffee and treats, and photos and information about the rehabilitation work, plans, and the history of the building.
A short WWII history walking tour will start at 1 p.m. from the Boathouse about what can still be seen of the WWII buildup and how this National Historic Landmark fits into United States history. The Japonski Island Boathouse is the first building on the right as you come over the bridge.
The work is 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, through the City and Borough of Sitka and its Historic Preservation Commission. For more information, call 738-7448.
A short WWII history walking tour will start at 1 p.m. from the Boathouse about what can still be seen of the WWII buildup and how this National Historic Landmark fits into United States history. The Japonski Island Boathouse is the first building on the right as you come over the bridge.
The work is 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, through the City and Borough of Sitka and its Historic Preservation Commission. For more information, call 738-7448.
Come See Us at WhaleFest!
Come see us at WhaleFest November 3-5 at Centennial Hall in Sitka Alaska! We are part of the Market Place, 10 to 4:30 Friday and Saturday, 11 to 3 Sunday!
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Maritime History Walking Tour
click here to go to booking site
- 1 1/2 hour
- historic downtown and waterfront
- The real, surprising story of Sitka, Tlingit America, Boston Men, 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
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays throughout August through September 1
1 pm to 2:30 pm
- historic downtown and waterfront
- The real, surprising story of Sitka, Tlingit America, Boston Men, 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
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays throughout August through September 1
1 pm to 2:30 pm
"I have lived in Alaska for 45 years and in Sitka for 12. I thought I had a good grasp on the history of the area but in just 1 1/2 hours I learned so much more about the history of Sitka and Alaska. If you enjoy history or just want to learn more about this amazing place I highly recommend taking this tour."
- Review on our booking site, 5/31/2023
- Review on our booking site, 5/31/2023
Work Party Volunteer Opportunities
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The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society is holding volunteer work parties to restore exterior walls on the Japonski Island Boatshop. They take place Saturdays from 9 am to noon throughout the summer. Volunteers of all skill levels welcome. Volunteers should bring gloves and tools if they have them. Volunteers are welcome to come for part or all the time. Project leaders will provide training in historic preservation principles and methods. Coffee and snacks provided. Call 752-2335 or email sitkamaritime@gmail.com for more information!
Sailing Class a Success!
We teamed up with Captain Blain Anderson of Sound Sailing to offer Introduction to Sailing May 3-7th in Sitka.
We are happy to be bringing more on-the-water training and fun boating opportunities to town and plan for this to be just the start! Members g0t $25 off the class and a portion of proceeds from this class go to support the SMHS. The sailing portion lined up with incredibly beautiful weather on the Sound, complete with breaching whale! 
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"A Short History of Sitka" is now available online "here" - or - at Old Harbor Books.
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2023 Annual Meeting "Scows, Tenders and Fish Buyers" was February 23
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The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society Annual Meeting program “Scows, Tenders, and Fish Buyers: Pughs, Old Milwaukee, Kalinin Bay and Hole In the Wall, Stories of a Half Century on the Grounds” was February 23rd at the ANB Founders Hall.
During the first half of the program, a panel of Sitkans, moderated by Eric Jordan, shared stories of scows and other fish buyers, going back to the 1950s and up to the present. In the second half of the program, audience members shared their own stories and asked questions. A pugh is a spike on a pole, once used to move fish from the fishing boat to the buyer. Beer, ice cream bars, price wars and hand troller camps were other topics that came up in this live oral history event. Attendees also posted their own sites and recollections on a chart of southeast Alaska. The program was filmed and will be made available on this site. |
"1920: Murder in Chatham Strait" Dessert Fundraiser a Success
At our history and dessert fundraiser “1920: Murder in Chatham Strait,” on January 18th, Juneau author Betsy Longenbaugh and Ed Schoenfeld gave a well researched and fascinating presentation on a true historical crime involving floating entertainers. Their presentation shed light on the world, and underworld, of ostensibly "dry" (as in, no alcohol) maritime Alaska in the 1920s.
Along with this exclusive, fascinating presentation, was a delicious slice of cheesecake by Wild Flour bakery. Thank you to everyone who came! Betsy Longenbaugh is a former newspaper reporter, originally from Sitka, and author of Forgotten Murders from Alaska's Capital. |
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Click Here for Winter 2022 Newsletter
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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. |
Pub Talk October 16th "Alexander Baranov The Man The Myth"
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Photo October 11 2021 by James Poulson, Daily Sitka Sentinel
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Open House, WWII Presentation and Tour
August 2022
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.
Join SMHS or Renew Your Membership now
(valid through 03/2024):
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.
Want to get involved?
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