Today we are in Kodiak which was the capital of Russian Alaska. Population is about 5,500. Once a struggling fishing port, World War II turned the island of Kodiak, the second largest island in the USA (bonus points if you can name the largest US island – NO googling! Answer below somewhere), into a major staging area for North Pacific operations. At one point Kodiak’s population topped 25,000, with Fort Abercrombie built as a defense post to protect the naval base that was constructed in 1939. Today, the old naval base is the site of the largest Coast Guard base in the country.
We are docked. Also here: the Silver Nova from Silversea Cruises.
For breakfast today, we ate at Mamsen’s which is part of the Explorer Lounge. They specialize in Norwegian waffles topped with brown cheese and sour cream. Uhm, that doesn’t sound appealing but it supposedly is very good. I passed and opted for a waffle with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and lots of maple syrup. It was delicious.
Our excursion today is Scenic Kodiak. We took a bus that made four stops.
First Stop: Kodiak History Museum
The Kodiak History Museum is a small site housed in the oldest and only surviving (I think) Russian built log cabin. Located on a rise, it came within inches of being destroyed in the 1964 earthquake and tsunami. Most of downtown was destroyed.
Maybe the best thing about today is the weather! This picture of a plane flying over tells the story. Gorgeous sunshine that made carrying our rain jackets a waste of time. Stunning day.
Second Stop: Kodiak Natural Wildlife Refuge
Well, the Kodiak Natural Wildlife Refuge is actually not another stop. It’s right across the street from the History Museum. One great thing about this place is the exhibit of art work by area school children. It’s part of the junior duck stamp program run by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.. The “best in show” is marked by a purplish ribbon. The age group winners are the three (or 2½) drawings in one snapshot. The whale skeleton is on the second floor. I didn’t go up, but I snapped it from the ground floor.
Third Stop: Kodiak Fisheries Research Center
Nice color in the maple trees outside.
Fourth Stop: Fort Abercrombie
The story of the military history is better told in this link to the Fort Abercrombie Military Museum. Fort Abercrombie now an Alaskan state park with miles of hiking trails through a sumptuous rain forest with moss covered trees and home to a private military museum in a bunker and run by volunteers. Great scenic vistas too. The museum (and its resident dog) was brilliant. It has still working telephone systems and teletype machines from World War II.
Dropoff: Downtown Kodiak
We walked around the harbor and had a great lunch at Henry’s Great Alaskan Restaurant. I had a delicious tuna steak perfectly cook (rare). Elaine had a fish sandwich. We shared a pitcher of Alaskan APA (American Pale Ale) and a basket of onion rings.
The largest island in the USA is the big island of Hawaii.
Kudos if you knew that.
Dinner was in the World Cafe and cocktails in the Explorer’s Lounge with a great sunset to watch out the windows. These were taken with my phone as I didn’t bring the camera to the lounge.
Tomorrow is a sea day en route to Dutch Harbor, our last stop in Alaska. Maybe some ship pictures. There won’t be much else to see.
Wow, Kodiak has a very interesting military history. So much to see and learn. Love all the Kodiak bear stuff.
Glad you’re having sunshine and what a beautiful sunset.
Any whales out there? Last chance I imagine. Weather looks so nice and clear and crisp. Great pix too. Say hi to Elaine, having fun in London, HOT temps!
Saw whales in the distance days agp. None since.