Sitka Historical Museum

New Sitka Historical Museum Planning

The Sitka Historical Museum is engaged in a Pre-Development planning effort through the Foraker Group and sponsored by the Rasmuson Foundation, to plan for a new museum and examine the sustainability of such a project for the Sitka Historical Society and the City of Sitka.

Meetings are open to the public and held at Centennial Hall:
Oct. 24, Monday 6 pm
Nov. 14, Monday, 6 pm
Nov. 28, Monday, 6 pm
Dec. 12, Monday, 6 pm

January 25, Wednesday, 6 pm White House 210 Seward
Initial tele-conference with architect Paul Voelkers/MRF for visioning and discussions of space concepts

February 15, Wednesday Design Options Presentation Location: Sitka National Historical Park, Theater
5:30 pm - 6:45 pm Museum Committee & Sitka Historical Society Board
7:00 pm Public open house, presentation and discussion/input

February 29, Wednesday Option Presentation of refined sketches Maksutoff Room @ Centennial Hall
5:30 pm - 6:45 pm Museum Committee & Sitka Historical Society Board
7:00 pm Public open house, presentation and discussion/input

March 13, Tuesday Presentation to Sitka Assembly (tentative) Centennial Hall

Several committee meetings will be scheduled after the new years as the committee moves to working with the architect for concept schematics for space allocations within the museum.

Agenda's, Minutes, Documents Available for Review

Planning Documents

MuseumCommitteeAgenda10.24.11

MuseumComMinutes10.24.11

MuseumCommitteeAgenda11.14.11

Museum Study Draft Report

Museum Comparison

Museum Com Mtg Min 14 Nov 2011.pdf
Museum Committee 12.5.agenda.pdf
Museum Minutes 5 dec.pdf
Sitka Museum Final Report.pdf
Sitka Library Est Operating cost.pdf
Museum Est'd Ops Cost, 5 Dec.xls
Sitka Museum Rev & Exp.3.xls

Agenda 1-25-2012

Committee Membership:

John Stein, Ernie Massey, Pat Alexander: Society Board Members
Bob Medinger, Society Exectuve Director
Mike Reif, Assembly Member
Michael Harmon, City Public Works Director
Tonya Rioux, Convention and Visitors Bureau ED
Marilyn Knapp, Retired Curator
Scott Carrlee, State Museum Curator of Museum Services
Jeff Feldpausch, Sitka Tribe of Alaska
Martha Schoenthal, Project Coordinator, Foraker Group
Mary Pat Wyatt, Museum Consultant, Foraker Group

About the Sitka Historical Museum

The Sitka Historical Museum is a history museum in Sitka, Alaska with a focus on interpreting Sitka and Southeast Alaska’s history. Known as the only museum in Sitka that contains elements of all of Sitka’s history, the Sitka Historical Museum has exhibits, photographs, artifacts, and archives related to Sitka’s Tlingit, Russian, and American history, and particularly, the period surrounding and following Alaska’s 1867 transfer from Russia. The breadth of history interpreted makes the Museum a great first stop for travelers to orient themselves to Sitka.

Interested in Becoming a
Board Member?

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Museum staff can provide answers to historical questions, interpret artifacts and relay tales of the unique individuals who have made Sitka a very special destination for the visitor. The museum also has a small gift shop featuring a choice selection of historical books about Sitka, locally created Tlingit art, and a great variety of reasonably priced gifts, including hand-made wooden Russian Matryoshka nesting dolls.

The Sitka Historical Museum is operated by the Sitka Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is located in Harrigan Centennial Hall at 330 Harbor Drive in downtown historic Sitka.

Mission

The mission of the Sitka Historical Society is to preserve and promote the events, stories and artifacts of the human history of the Sitka area for the inspiration, education and benefit of the public and future generations.

History

The Sitka Historical Society is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. At the time of its founding, the Society did not have a dedicated space to store and exhibit its collections, but in 1967, with the major support of the City and Borough of Sitka and volunteers, including long-time Sitka resident, Isabel Miller, the collections were moved to their new home in Harrigan Centennial Hall and opened its doors to the public.

Bob Medinger, Director

2010 International Conference On Russian America
Professional research papers are included that highlight new views of the Russian era in Sitka,
and throughout Alaska, from 1741 to 1867.