Thanks to DNR's Office of History and Archeology, and the City of Sitka's Certified Local Government program 
... for supporting Sitka Maritime Heritage Society through a Historic Preservation Fund grant. This grant goes toward rebuilding the boathouse windows and doors and will help us bring power and lights into the shop side of the building. We're glad to have such great partners in this endeavor! 

SMHS is Blessed By Great Friends!

St. Lazaria Wildlife Cruise and Kruzof Island Beach Picnic Fundraiser ~ Wow! So many people to thank ...

     
The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society sends out a big thank you to all who contributed to the success of our 4th of July Fundraising Cruise. Allen Marine was particularly generous in helping us with the boat arrangements, and the crew (Donny and Stevania) and skipper (Steven Campbell) were the best! Our naturalist, Ryan Carpenter, made the magical trip around St. Lazaria even more special thanks to his enthused, informative narrative. After seeing (among others) puffins, pigeon guillemots, murres and a nesting peregrine falcon at St. Lazaria, and after enjoying the antics of a sea lion and the thrilling beauty of a gray whale, we aimed for Kruzof Island to enjoy a beach picnic. We arrived to the warm sight of campfires and friendly smiles from our advance crew on the beach, Sitka Sound Ocean Adventures and the Dunlap family, (John, Alison, Michaela, Holly, Bryan and Blake).  Thanks also to Terry and Joe and several others who helped grill up yummy food, and to Joe for supplying us with some unexpected, and very appreciated frothy beverages. Courtesy of Matthew Hunter and his website, we had a wonderful information sheet on Fort Babcock and related points of interest on Kruzof Island near our picnic site. We want to thank Ben Franklin for being our ticket outlet (and steady source of candy bars) in the weeks leading up to the event. We are grateful to Birch Equipment Rental and Sales for supplying us with grills, a table and a tent at a reduced rate, and to Shari Pergricht for help with logistics. Finally, our appreciation goes out to all the fine businesses around town that display posters, and a very warm thank you to those in the media who helped publicize the event, including the CKAW Raven Radio, KIFW-AM Radio, the Sitka Soup, and the Daily Sitka Sentinel.

New Stairs at the Boat House                                               June 2013

Picture
The Japonski Island boat house now has a sturdy set of stairs leading up to the workshop door. UAS Construction Tech Professor Pat Hughes deserves big thanks. Labor and materials donations came from Terry Perensovich, Joe D'Arienzo, James Poulson and Pat Hughes, and Mike Litman is fabricating an aluminum safety hand rail to add to the project. 

  2013  ASSOCIATE  SPONSORS
Be sure to Thank these businesses when you shop locally!

Venneberg Insurance ~ Christine E Harrington, CPA
Contributing Business: Precision Boatworks

Sitka Maritime Heritage Society is grateful for all of our supporters! 

Picture
SMHS volunteer apply paint to the Boathouse.
Over the last decade, the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society has raised over $400,000 through grants, individual donations, and membership dues to help establish a Maritime Center in Sitka.  SMHS also has benefited from tens of thousands of volunteer hours.  Below we've listed some of our major financial contributors.
  • Save America's Treasures -- $325,000 federal grant
  • National Scenic Byways -- $91,000 grant (used for architecture)
  • Alaska Historic Preservation Fund -- $25,000 (for roof replacement)
  • Rasmuson Foundation -- $25,000 grant to complete design
  • Tourism Cares -- $10,000 grant (one of seven recipients out of 200 applicants)
  • Sitka's Beta Sigma Phi -- $7,400 (raised at an art auction)
  • Maritime Art Auction 2008 -- $6,255
  • Allen Marine Tours -- donated fundraising boat trip of $2,100 value
  • Shee Atika Corp. -- $2,000
  • Dee Longenbaugh -- $2,000
  • Skaggs Foundation -- $2,000
  • The Lovejoy Family -- $1,000
  • Mary Sue Rose -- $1,000
  • The Modrell family -- $1,000
  • The Torgeson family -- $1,000
  • Thad and Sandy Poulson -- $1,000
  • Rebecca Poulson -- $1,000
  • Matthew Hunter -- $1,000
  • Bill DeArmond in memory of Robert DeArmond -- $1,000
  • Jack Calvin family -- $1,000
  • Sitka Sound Ocean Adventure Race -- over $1,000 in race proceeds
  • The City and Borough of Sitka -- in-kind grant support
  • The National Trust for Historic Preservation -- matching for initial grants
  • Federal Historic Preservation Fund and the City and Borough of Sitka -- contributed administration for early grants
  • Alaska Association for Historic Preservation -- several grants to match federal grants
  • Numerous local volunteers and businesses who have donated time, equipment and supplies.