Haines, Alaska
Description
View cruises with Haines, AlaskaA canoe slipped into the mouth of the Chilkat Inlet in November 1879, carrying Presbyterian missionary S. Hall Young and his friend, John Muir. Young told the Chilkat Indians that he wanted to build a Christian town. He chose space between two waterways, the Chilkat River and the Lynn Canal, and the town of Haines was born.
During the 1900s, a permanent army post was built and named Fort William H. Seward. The post was abandoned in 1946 and sold to a group of veterans who re-established it as Port Chilkoot. In 1970, the area became part of the City of Haines and when the fort became a national historic site in 1972, the name was changed back to Fort William H. Seward.
Haines is the home of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, where as many as 4,000 bald eagles gather each fall to feast on spawning salmon along the Chilkat River. Naturalists and photographers come from all over the world to witness one of the most unusual and impressive sights in nature's kingdom. As many as 80 have been seen perched in a single tree and more than a hundred may be captured within the frame of a single photograph.
Points of Interest
- Fort William H. Seward
- Chilkoot Lake
- Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
- Outdoor Adventures
- American Bald Eagle Foundation
- Hammer Museum
- Klukwan
- Kroschel Wildlife Center
More about Haines, Alaska Points of Interest
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Fort William H. Seward -
Also known as Chilkoot Barracks, the fort was the first permanent U.S. Army outpost in Alaska, established during the gold rush era.
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Chilkoot Lake -
Chilkoot Lake is located at the foot of the Takshanuk Mountains to the west and the Ferebee Glacier and mountains to the east. Considered a choice location for spotting brown bears feeding on spawning salmon.
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Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve -
The 48,000-acre preserve is the year-round home to between 200 and 400 eagles and more than 80 eagle nests. Even during the summer, it's one of the best places to see an eagle in southeast Alaska.
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Outdoor Adventures -
Enjoy what is truly an outdoorsman's paradise, with activities you won't find anywhere else. Go for a ride on an ATV or try a jet boat excursion, biking, nature watching, kayaking, wildlife viewing and more.
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American Bald Eagle Foundation -
A must-see for visitors and locals alike - this wildlife display and education center is dedicated to the protection and preservation of bald eagle habitat through educational research.
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Hammer Museum -
The world's only museum dedicated to hammers provides a view of the past through the use of man's first tool. You will find over 1,600 hammers on display, ranging from Roman times to the present.
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Klukwan -
The only remaining of five Chilkat villages in the area before 1900 provides an authentic Native Alaskan experience of traditional food, dances and regalia on the banks of the Chilkat River.
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Kroschel Wildlife Center -
Steve Kroschel's unique interactive wildlife center provides a home for orphaned and rescued wild animals and allows you learn their habits and have the opportunity to touch many of them.
