Your travels here will take you along the paths and in the wakes of many fascinating individuals and famous explorers.

Early Explorations in Southeast Alaska

Until 1513, no European knew of the existence of the Pacific Ocean. Spanish adventurer Vasco Nunez de Balboa hiked across the ismuths of Panama on September 1513 to discover this vast body of water. The European discovery of Alaska is generally attributed to Vitus Jonassen Bering a Dutch captain sailing for Peter the Great of Russia. Bering was the expedition leader of a two vessel fleet, the “St. Peter” and the “St. Paul.” If we accept the proposition that Bering’s expedition discovered Alaska, the distinction goes to Alexsei Chirikov on the “St. Peter” who made landfall, June 14, 1741, near Craig and later going ashore near Sitka. Bering made landfall near Cape St. Elias a day later. The point Chirikov sighted bears his name, Cape Chirikof. The Spanish were the next visitors to S.E. Alaska, sailing into Dixon Entrance in 1774. Although Captain Juan Perez sailed near the south end of the panhandle, he made his landing not in Alaska but on the northerly most Queen Charlotte Island, Graham Island. Tlingit oral history records the first sighting of a sailing ship in S.E. Alaska from Cape Northumberland on Duke Island across from Graham Island. Possibly, the sighting was of Perez on this historic voyage.

In 1779, Captain John Cook visited Alaska on his third and final voyage. However, he did not make a landing in Southeast Alaska. His first stop was in Prince William Sound. Notables aboard this last voyage included sailing master William Bligh who was to have an infamous career. His infamy continued in a manner into the 20 century when the tanker “Exxon Valdez” struck Bligh Reef named for Blight over a century before. Also with Cook on that voyage was 14 year old Midshipman George Vancouver. Vancouver would come back to Alaska 12 years later and chart S.E. Alaska.

Captain George Vancouver

Vancouver was sent by the British government to chart the largely unknown coastline from Baja California to Cook Inlet, to determine the economic potential of the area and to counter Spanish influence. He sailed from England in 1791 with the 100 ft. “Discovery” and smaller tender “Chatham”, He conducted two voyages in S.E. Alaska between 1793 and 1794. He named many local features in The Pacific Northwest. In Misty Fjords National Monument he probably named more features than any other person. His designations include the island on which Ketchikan is located, Revillagigedo Island after the viceroy of Mexico, Rudyerd Bay after an engineer who designed England’s Eddystone Light House and Chatham Straits after his tender. Farther south, Puget Sound was named for his Lt. Peter Puget, and Mt. Baker for another of his officers. Vancouver was an outstanding cartographer having been trained by Captain Cook. His charts were masterpieces and were used for a hundred years after his death.

Captain Vancouver arrived back in England September 13, 1795. He died three years later at the age of 40, primarily the result of the rigors of his years at sea. He passed away largely unappreciated and poorly compensated by his government. After arriving back home, he immediately started to work compiling an account of this voyage for publication. After his death, his brother John completed the project.

The Fur Trade in Southeast Alaska

Following on the heels of early explorers were the fur traders. Sea Otter pelts brought back by members of Bering’s and Cooks voyages found there way to China and brought very high prices. As a result Russian, English and American entrepreneurs rushed to Alaska to capitalize on this market. For about a hundred years trader from these adventurers competed with each other for access to the furs of the coast. They both fought and traded with the natives. Nowhere in Alaska was the native-European conflict more in evidence that at Sitka, the capitol of Russian America. Here the Russian fort was attacked and most inhabitants killed in 1802. The Russians reasserted control over the area in 1804 and established New Archangel (Sitka).