Page 138 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

136  ALASK A AREA B Y AREA

Wrangell’s harbor against the backdrop of the Coast Mountains
6 Wrangell roads lead to free campgrounds, House on Chief Shakes Island.
the best of which are at Nemo Electronic lighting on the
80 miles (128 km) N of Ketchikan. Point, 14 miles (22 km) south, ceiling of the lobby simulates
Transport map F5. * 2,400. ~
from Ketchikan. g from Ketchikan, offering wonderful high alti tude the undulations of the aurora
Peters burg, or Juneau. n Nolan views over Zimovia Strait. borealis. Museum displays
Center, 296 Campbell Drive, 874- begin with the natu ral history
2829/800-367-9745.  _ Stikine E Wrangell Museum of the region and proceed
River Birding Festival (early May). Nolan Center, 296 chronologically
∑ wrangellalaska.org Campbell Drive. Tel 874- through exhibits on
3770. Open May–Sep: Native culture, the fur
Founded as Redoubt St. Dionysius 10am–5pm Mon–Sat; trade, military history,
in 1833 by the Russians, the Oct–Apr: noon–5pm the Stikine Gold Rush,
original fort on this site was Tue–Sat. & 7 = fishing, and forestry.
intended to pro tect Russian fur Housed in the same The museum is also
trading inter ests from the British building as the town’s a repository for
and Spanish. The local Tlingit, visitor information thou sands of historic
under Chief Shakes V, recog- office and convention images and numer ous
nized the economic benefits of center, the Wrangell Tlingit housepost, audio and video
cooperation with the Russians Museum contains a Wrangell Museum records, which are
and joined them at the redoubt wonderful collection available for viewing.
in 1834. In the same year, com- of artifacts. The large entryway
bined Tlingit and Russian forces features the original 17th- P Chief Shakes Island
managed to repel the British century houseposts of the Shakes St.
forces led by Peter Skeen Odgen, Frog Clan from the Tlingit Tribal Accessible by a wooden walkway
who had attempted to establish across an arm of the harbor, Chief
a fur trading post. In 1868, Shakes Island is a park and a
following Alaska’s transfer to the repository for Tlingit totems
US, the Americans established dating from 1840 to 1940.
a military fort that they named Opened in 1940 and restored
after the head of the Russian- in 2013, the large replica Tlingit
American Company, Baron Tribal House, a National Historic
Ferdinand von Wrangel. Site, was named Ck! Udatc
Today, Wrangell is a friendly Hit (“House of Many Faces”) in
little town, attracting a few reference to the human visages
adventurous visitors and a in its design. Inside are replica
handful of small cruise ships houseposts of the Frog Clan,
in the summer. The real draw and dotted around the park are
is the Stikine River, just outside several distinctive totems. The
town, as well as Anan Creek peace ful park overlooks the
and outlying parts of Wrangell pictur esque harbor, and on
Island, both popular for wild life Totem pole and Tlingit Tribal House on sunny days, its green lawns
viewing. From the town, forest Chief Shakes Island provide a perfect place to relax.
The beautiful town of Sitka, on the west coast of Baranof Island

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