PARIS OF THE PACIFIC

Sitka, known as Novo-Arkhangelsk during the era of Russian colonial occupation, was not only the capital of Russian-America from 1808-1867, but also the most substantial European settlement on the West Coast of North America. When Seattle barely existed and Los Angeles was mostly a mission, Novo-Arkhangelsk boasted a metal forge and a sawmill, a college and a 40-bed hospital, even a scientific station. Prior to the Russians’ arrival, of course, the area had been inhabited by Tlingit (Kolosh) tribes for thousands of years. Today, the town of Sitka is a popular tourist and cruise-ship destination. The permanent resident population is just under 9,000. A curious fact is that Sitka is by one measure the largest town (incorporated area) in the U.S., encompassing 2,874 square miles – four times the size of Rhode Island.