The 4H boatbuilding class in the Boathouse shop, spring of 2018. Photo by James Poulson.
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Welcome to the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society
We are a nonprofit dedicated to preserving maritime heritage and to sharing that rich legacy with the public, especially children and youth.
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Recent News
Listen (or Read) About SMHS on Raven Radio
Earlier this summer we were invited by the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce (which also operates Visit Sitka) to present at their weekly luncheon - here's the story by radio station KCAW.
4H Boatbuilding
Our most exciting news is our partnership with Sitka’s 4H program. Twelve youth ages 7 and up are building a small plywood boat, at the boathouse on Sunday afternoons in April, May and June. Boat building adult leaders are Paul Rioux, Tom Crane, Terry Perensovich, and Joe D’Arenzio.
Pacific Services forming up the addition foundation. Photo by Stan Barge.
Well, and it's also exciting to have a foundation and utilities in our new addition
This spring we are wrapping up work on phase one of our entry addition. Contractor Oceanside Excavation trenched and brought utilities into the building, and Pacific Services built a stemwall foundation, pad for the new winch, entry deck, ramp and stairs.
This work is funded in part by a federal Certified Local Government grant from the State of Alaska Office of History and Archaeology, via the City and Borough of Sitka Historic Preservation Commission. A series of work parties over the winter did the groundwork for the foundation, repairing walls and documenting and moving the old winch and its shed. This entry, when complete, will have a year-round restroom, utilities, a new winch, and small lobby/office. The ultimate goal of the rehabilitation has the functioning woodshop in the southeast wing, boat haul out in the main work bay, and a multi-purpose exhibit and event space in the current store room wing. Oral History Video Project
The SMHS is using a small grant from the City and Borough of Sitka to digitize and to edit video for publication on line and for our exhibits. Local Lione Clair is doing this work in between her work as a naturalist this summer.
Thank you, Jenya!
Our intrepid, energetic and brainy Executive Director, Jenya Anitchtenko, has taken a job as the Sitka Historical Society’s new Curator. We wish her the best in this new position!
Long-time board member and artist Rebecca Poulson is taking on the Director job. We have lots of plans for the coming year, building on Jenya’s great work and creativity. We also are keeping the door open to hiring a motivated person interested in making this their career, who wants to grow the director job and the organization. If this is you, email us at sitkamaritime@gmail.com. |
Open House September 22
Come to an open house the afternoon of September 22nd from 2 to 4, and enjoy good food, a tour of the work we've done, see cool artifacts, learn about plans for the coming year, and, see some of the new oral history videos now on our YouTube channel.
We will also have boat-shaped cookies, to decorate and eat! Yum! Outer Coast Summer Seminar Students Lend a Hand
On July 13th, Outer Coast Summer Seminar students - 16 rising high school juniors and seniors - and two coordinators spent an incredibly fun and productive afternoon volunteering at the Japonski Island Boathouse.
Students replaced sheathing inside the rebuilt wall of the storage room, they painted the 4H dinghies, weeded and brushed around the building, painted some exterior siding, cleaned and tidied the workshop, and helped begin the process of cataloguing the SMHS historical collections. We had a great time meeting these exceptionally friendly and intelligent young people and wish them the best in the remainder of their time in Sitka! Upcoming Events
We have plans for the rest of the year, including more talks featuring local mariners and interesting boats, like the St. Lazaria, built as a trap tender in 1918 and still working. Also, check out the following:
✷ Our display case inside City Hall, ✷ Work parties For the fall and winter, we are pursuing funding to complete the building renovation, planning boat repair and building classes, designing a new t-shirt, and conducting an art project. All good stuff! Thank you for your support! Spring 2018 Newsletter
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