Our second port of call was Sitka. This town was the capital city of the former Russian America. It was a trading post for marine animal furs. Thus, it signifies a rich cultural crossroads of Indigenous Tlingit heritage and Russian colonial history before Alaska was sold to the United States.
It was raining, but we could not skip one of our few port days. Myles looked pretty happy nonetheless. Kyle did not feel well and decided to stay on the cruise ship with Avery.
We visited Sitka National Historical Park. We learned a lot about the indigenous people and their culture.
The historical park included a forest. Inside the park, there were tall trees covered in moss.
We also stopped at the Sitka Sound Science Center. We did not enter the center, but we watched the salmon hatchery. Salmon were jumping and swimming upstream.
We walked over to the Alaska Raptor Center. It was a rehabilitation hospital for bald eagles, hawks, and owls. They rescued injured birds and rehabilitated them to return them back to the forest. It was cool to see them up close.
For me, Baranof Castle was of interest to me. This site was on a small hill, but it had a historical significance. The U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million in 1567. That translated into 2 cents per acre. What a deal! I am sure the Russians regret this deal. The agreement was signed at this castle site in Sitka because it was the capital city of Russian America.
As I was returning to the cruise ship, I saw a statue of a bald eagle. I love eagles because they can fly high and see far, symbolizing an effective leader.
After we returned to the cruise ship, we watched the performance of a band consisting of nine members who were all from Latin American nations. Their performances were very good and entertaining.
Our port day was short, but good enough on a rainy day. We felt that the port was well organized. - Jeffrey
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