Indian River Park: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Sitka National Historical Park

NPS Alaska Regional Office

Indian River Park is a landscape of Sitka National Historical Park, adjacent to the port of Sitka, Alaska. Originally set aside as federally-owned park land by Presidential Proclamation in 1890, Indian River Park was designated Sitka National Monument in 1910 and Sitka National Historical Park in 1972. Indian River Park is a 61-acre historic designed landscape, including a historic pathway lined with totem poles within coastal Alaskan forest. The landscape can be linked to the national public park movement, inspired by Andrew Jackson Downing, and to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) period. Formerly used as a “pleasure ground” by the Russians, the area of land surrounding the Indian River became a more formalized landscape under U.S. ownership. Many of the totem poles were collected for display at the St. Louis World Fair in 1904. When they returned to Sitka, their installation in the park preserved the totem poles for posterity while also serving as a decorative feature and tourist draw for Sitka. The period of significance for the Indian River Park cultural landscape is 1802-2004 and 1867. This recognizes the significance of the site for the 1804 battle between the Tlingit and the Russians (National Register Criterion A), which ultimately led to Russian and then American tenure at Sitka. It is significant under Criterion B for association with K’alyaan, the Kiks.adi clan leader, who played a role in the outcome of the battle, and its association with Alaska Governor John Brady, who collected and arranged for the display of totem poles in the park. The landscape is also significant under Criterion C as the site of display of Tlingit and Haida carved totem poles along the trail, and under Criterion D for its potential to yield significant information about the location and construction of the fort and Tlingit traditional practices and history. Significant elements of the landscape include the historic Totem Walk, Battleground of 1804, and the Tlingit Fort Site. A western hemlock and Sitka spruce rainforest covers most of the land within the park. Most of the totem poles have been replaced over the years by traditional Tlingit carvers and retain integrity of design, workmanship, materials, feeling, association, and setting.

Indian River Park: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Sitka National Historical Park

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