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Wrangell, Alaska<
a mural in
Wrangell tells the history of the place
Wrangell
lies near the north end of Wrangell Island at the mouth of the Stikine
River. The magnificent Stikine Mountains form the backdrop
of this town giving it a very picturesque look. Its history dates
back to 1834 when the Russians erected Fort Dionysus to prevent the
Hudson's Bay Company from fur trading up the Stikine River. It has
since been renamed to Fort Stikine and later Fort Wrangell when Alaska
became a US territory in 1867.
Wrangell's population today is about 2,000 and the major industries are
crab, shrimp and fish processing. There are many local attractions
for boaters and tourists:
1 Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park - a boardwalk trail and
observation platform leads to the beach where ancient rock carvings can
be found.
2. Chief Shake's Island - situated in the city harbor, connected
by footbridge at the end of Wrangell's main street. The tiny
island is a replica of an Indian tribal house. Several historic
totem poles can be found here, along with cultural artifacts at the
tribal or community house.
3. Anan Wildlife Conservatory - boat tours operating out of
Wrangell takes tourists to the Anan Wildlife Conservatory which is 35
miles out of Wrangell. Here, you can observe bears catching salmon
and other marine life.
4. Le Conte Glacier - tidewater glacier - Alaska's southernmost
glacier is just a few miles out of Wrangell.
Observation
platform at Wrangell Petroglyph Park
a petroglyph
at the Wrangell Petroglyph Park
a petroglyph
at the Wrangell Petroglyph Park
a petroglyph
at the Wrangell Petroglyph Park
tourists hunt for petroglyph at the Wrangell Petroglyph Park
a
driftwood at the Wrangell
Petroglyph Park
Wrangell's
prime industry is crabbing.
a private
home in Wrangell has a good collection of fenders
private home
in Wrangell with fishing
floats as curtains
a ship
propeller - now part of garden art in a Wrangell private home
a giant
chocolate brownie pudding at the Stikine Inn feeds 5 people
Now you see
it - now you don't