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Anchorage (Seward), Alaska

While sailing from Kodiak to Yakutat in 1791, Russian fur trader Alexander Baranov found shelter here from a storm. Because it was Easter, he named the haven Resurrection Bay.

Throughout the 1790s, Baranov used Resurrection Bay as Alaska's first shipyard, building small, sturdy boats to hunt sea otters. In 1903, railroad surveyors formally established Seward as a sea terminal and supply center for the Alaska Railroad, mainly because of its deep, ice-free harbor.

The town also became a center for gold miners, trappers, loggers and fishermen. Between 1910 and 1911, miners blazed a 1,000-mile dog sled trail from Seward to Nome that became known as the Iditarod Trail. The community remained a quiet fishing port for the next several decades. All that ended in 1964 when an earthquake rocked the town. Miraculously, no one was killed, but it took several decades to completely rebuild the downtown area.

Points of Interest

  • Kenai Fjords National Park
  • Exit Glacier
  • Alaska SeaLife Center
  • Resurrection Bay
  • Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
  • Anchorage
  • Portage Glacier
  • Outdoor Adventures

More about Anchorage (Seward), Alaska Points of Interest

  • Kenai Fjords National Park -

    The 690,000-acre Kenai Fjords National Park is one of Alaska's rare treasures, with sightings of orca and humpback whales, sea otters and sea lions, and a "sea" of glaciers and ice caps.

  • Exit Glacier -

    The 300-square-mile Harding Icefield within Kenai Fjords National Park is the source of over 35 glaciers, including Exit. An active glacier, Exit's ice trickles down into the waters of Resurrection Bay.

  • Alaska SeaLife Center -

    Alaska's premier aquarium and marine mammal rehabilitation facility is located on the shores of Resurrection Bay. This "window on the sea" offers close encounters with puffins, octopus and sea lions.

  • Resurrection Bay -

    Located on the Kenai Peninsula, this restless body of water offers spectacular views on the way to the fjords and teems with plentiful species of fish and frolicking marine mammals.

  • Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center -

    Dedicated to preserving Alaska's wildlife through public education, this refuge for injured and orphaned animals includes moose, elk, caribou, bears, musk oxen, bison, deer, lynx and eagles.

  • Anchorage -

    A modern city surrounded by spectacular wilderness and the state's largest community. Enjoy world-class attractions, Native Alaskan culture, shopping and dining in this four-time All American City.

  • Portage Glacier -

    This giant wall of ice is one of Alaska's most popular and exciting attractions. It's your chance to witness glacier calving and hear the thunderous roar when a huge block of ice crashes into the sea.

  • Outdoor Adventures -

    From a "float" down the Resurrection River, and a dog sled ride through the wilderness, to scenic cruises to view natural wonders and wildlife, Seward offers a myriad of outdoor adventures.

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