Sitka National Historical Park
| Sitka National Historical Park | |
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IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
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| Location | City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska, USA |
| Nearest city | Sitka, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 57°02′49″N 135°18′50″W / 57.04694°N 135.31389°WCoordinates: 57°02′49″N 135°18′50″W / 57.04694°N 135.31389°W |
| Area | 112 acres (45 ha) |
| Established | October 18, 1972 |
| Visitors | 186,864 (in 2011) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Sitka National Historical Park |
Sitka National Historical Park (earlier known as Indian River Park and Totem Park) is a national historical park in Sitka in the U.S. state of Alaska. It was redesignated as a national historical park from its previous status as national monument on October 18, 1972. The park in its various forms has sought to commemorate the Tlingit and Russian experiences in Alaska.
The history of Alaska's oldest federally designated cultural and historic park dates back to June 21, 1890 when President Benjamin Harrison set aside the site of the Tlingit fort Shis'kí Noow (Tlingit for "Sapling Fort") for public use. The site, located near the mouth of the Indian River, served in 1804 as the location of an armed conflict between the native Tlingit people and Russian fur hunters (accompanied by their Aleut allies), known today as the Battle of Sitka.
From 1903 to 1905, District Governor John G. Brady set about acquiring Native totem poles from all over Alaska for display at the park; the majority of the poles came from Haida villages located on Prince of Wales Island, while others had been on display at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Shortly thereafter, a group of influential Sitkans concerned about vandalism and the poor condition of the park in general pressured the federal government to declare the site a national monument.
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