It's the museum inside Harrigan Centennial Hall. It's small, but mighty. The historical society has…read moredone a great job in preserving Sitka's history. I never really thought much about how the Russian Orthodox Church influenced Alaska until walking through many of the historical sights in town. This museum ties it all together with artifacts recovered from the area (including shipwrecks), as well as donated items from Alaskan native & pioneer families that were passed down from generations. The captain's journal from the USS Ossipee bears witness to the Alaska Purchase ceremony. The otter gut parka (or kamleika) was another interesting find. The Alaskan native people invented & designed these waterproof outer garments for hunting and fishing. The ship's bell that is believed to be from a Russian American vessel (called the "Neva") caught my attention as well. There is an admission fee of $5. I'd say it's worth it. The older woman at the entrance was so friendly and cheerful. She made me laugh a couple of times just hearing the stories she'd tell to other tourists. She apparently sees brown bears around her house daily. No need for a tour... Lol! What a cool lady! Ask her anything, and I assure you that it will brighten up your day.

I am so glad I stumbled on this place. I learned a lot from this place, and the staff, especially…read morethe older female employees, was so nice and helpful. Don't miss this place it's only $5 and very worth it!! If this review helped you at all, please mark as helpful and follow me for more around the world.

My family and I was on an alaskian cruise on a vacation. We were passing by this science center…read more The cost was about $2 a person. There is alot of hand on experiences. Touching the sea creatures like starfishes, hermit crabs and sea amenities. Great experience for all ages

Honestly, it's better for families with young children. The main attraction is the touch tanks full…read moreof sea stars, sea anemones & urchins, sea cucumbers, sea snails, and more. They advise you to use a short & gentle 2 finger touch. I didn't touch any of them. Lol! I was just happy to see these colorful creatures walking all over their tank. As you enter, you'll see a large orca skeleton hanging over the tanks. I didn't get a picture of it, but you can see it in the reflection off the touch tanks in some of the videos. I enjoyed seeing the grouchy looking sculpin, as well as the sweet wolf eel named Wanda. She's actually quite adorable until she shows her teeth. What's interesting is that she's not really an eel. She's a fish. She came out of her home to greet me. How sweet! It was also cool to see the colorful rockfish. There's more, but I won't ruin it for you. We didn't get to see the salmon hatchery. We were too early for salmon spawning season. It's a better value to wait until the summer months to see it. The admission price was higher than what has previously been mentioned in reviews. It didn't come with a tour. They offer a behind the scenes tour for an additional charge. The proceeds help to maintain the facilities and programs. Would I visit the aquarium again? Probably not. It's a one-time experience for me. There's a gift shop next door that also houses Ludvig's Chowder Cart. The buildings are located on Sage Beach near the Sea Walk trail. It's a beautiful area!

Great Christmas gift shop…read more I should not have taken my wife in. People are great and they have some good sales.

Absolutely gorgeous artwork can be found in this Russian centric Christmas shop. From stackable…read moredolls to ornate statues and hand painted bulbs and the list goes on and on. My only gripe about this business is the price which seems quite high and clearly is going after the visiting tourists. I am not an expert on price when it comes to this type of work but I clearly recognize beauty and craftsmanship when I see it and the merchandise they sell at this business oozes it! This is a must visit if you are a collector of fine Christmas ornamates and if you can afford it you will find yourself in Nirvana (:

We were in Sitka. The bus stop or pick up stop to head back to the cruise ship stopped near…read moreKettleson Memorial Library. The Library has free wifi and is conveniently located with plenty of free parking.

As we were walking around Sitka, we walked by this stunning building. It was the Sitka's Public…read moreLibrary. We were drawn in by the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the harbor. What a great location for a library. I could just see us using this quiet, cozy spot to relax and read.

You can't ask for a more peaceful experience than this lush rainforest steeped in the Russian…read morehistory of Sitka. What to expect? Beautiful mossy headstones and a rainforest atmosphere all within two blocks of the Main Street in Sitka. I always find it so interesting to see how different cultures decorate and organize cemeteries and this spot is no exception. Fingers crossed you'll have the whole place to yourself because it's so peaceful and special.

I've been a nature tourist for most of my life. This was, without a doubt, the best tour I've been…read moreon in my life. Not only was our guide Lanie knowledgeable, she was clearly dedicated to sharing a love of this unique and special ecosystem.

My wife and I are history buffs. Suzan is a great tour guide. We were on a cruise ship and booked…read moredirectly with SWT via the Viator web site. She is VERY knowledgeable about Sika history and gave us a great 2.5 hour tour. Excellent value. Sitka was really the highlight of our Alaska cruise with a lot of kiddos due to this tour. After the tour, we went back and spent our leisure time doing the Nat'l Par sites and the historic church as well as Sheldon Jackson Museum and Baranof Castle.