Page 104 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

102  ALASK A AREA B Y AREA

6 Seward In the summer, however, the
waterfront transforms into a
Considered to have one of Alaska’s most scenic locations, bustling tourist complex. Here,
Seward is also known for its saltwater salmon fishing, its the town’s thousands of visitors
rollicking Independence Day celebrations, and its access and cruise ship passengers can
to Kenai Fjords National Park (see pp106–7). Although organize tours and fishing trips,
join Kenai Fjords cruises, plan
the Russians set up a shipyard here in 1793, the town outdoor activities, and shop
was founded in 1903 by John Ballaine, who decided that for gifts in a growing number of
its deepwater port would be an ideal location for a railhead. souve nir shops. At the southern
The railway came to fruition in 1923 and Seward thrived, end, the shops give way to an
but the 1964 earthquake destroyed most of the town. often packed tent and RV camp-
ground that stretches along the
However, Seward was rebuilt, and to mark its revitalisation, shore for almost 2 miles (3 km).
its newspaper was named the Phoenix Log.
E Kenai Fjords National
Park Information Center
1212 4th Ave. Tel 422-0500. Open late
May–early Sep: 9am–7pm daily; early
May–mid-Sep: 9am–5pm daily. 7 =
∑ nps.gov/kefj
The handsome building
that houses the Kenai Fjords
National Park Information
Center sits on the Seward
waterfront. It features several
exhibits detailing aspects of
the glaciation that created the
park’s spectacular land scapes,
Ship’s anchor on display at Seward’s waterfront as well as the wildlife and
prolific birdlife that inhabits it
P Benny Benson Memorial most beautiful of all the US (see pp106–7). A free video runs
7 state flags (see p59). inter mittently, outlining natural
Located next to the lagoon history and park landscapes,
just to the west of the Seward } Seward Waterfront including remote sites that
Highway stands a memorial 7 0 - = few visitors are able to reach.
honoring Benny Benson and Situated a short distance away
his contri bution to Alaska. from the small boat harbor E Seward Community
Carved on Alaska stone by artist and downtown Seward, the Library and Museum
Damon Capurro, the memorial water front lies within easy 6th & Adams. Tel 224-3902.
is engraved with the words of reach of the port, rail depot, Open mid-May–mid-Sep: 10am–5pm
the Alaska flag song by Marie and airport. For most of the Tue–Sat, 1–5pm Sun; mid-Sep–mid-
Drake and Elinor Dusenbury. year, row upon row of yachts, May: noon–5pm Fri & Sat, by appt
In 1926, George Parks, the pleasure craft, and fishing Tue–Thu. & summer only. 7 =
governor of Alaska, asked boats peacefully bob in the Located on the first floor of
schoolchildren to submit ideas waters beneath the snow- the town’s library, the Seward
for a state flag with essays covered peaks across the bay. Museum offers a glimpse of the
explaining their design. Of
the 142 entries submitted,
the judges’ unanimous choice
was that of Benny Benson, a
13-year-old Alutiiq boy who
lived at Seward’s Jesse Lee
Orphanage. Benson’s essay
explained that the flag’s blue
field represented the Alaska
sky as well as the forget-me-
not, the state flower. The North
Star stood for the future State
of Alaska, the most northerly
in the Union, while the Great
Bear constellation symbolized
strength. Alaska’s flag is now
generally regarded as the Kenai Fjords National Park Information Center on the Seward Waterfront
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp242–3 and pp251–2

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