Sitka in Sitka Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

History of Castle Hill (1867-)

History of Castle Hill Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 1, 2021

1. History of Castle Hill Marker

Inscription.
The castle then served as the seat of the United States government until military forces were withdrawn in 1877. Following 1877 there was no government in Alaska until the Organic Act of 1884 authorized the appointment of an Internal Revenue agent. The castle was then used for office and residence of government officials until it was destroyed by fire in 1894.

On July 18, 1898, by order of President McKinley, this site was reserved for agricultural investigations and weather service reporting by the Department of Agriculture. A new building was constructed for these purposes. It was later destroyed, and land ownership was transferred to the Territory of Alaska in 1956. Site improvements were carried out during 1966 and 1967 in preparation for the Alaska Purchase centennial.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical date for this entry is July 18, 1898.

Location. 57° 2.919′ N, 135° 20.272′ W. Marker is in Sitka, Alaska, in Sitka Borough. Marker is atop Castle Hill in Baranof Castle State Historic Site. It can reached via a stairway from Lincoln Street or an accessible but steep paved path from Harbor Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sitka AK 99835, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Town for an Empire (here, next to this marker); In This Place

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(a few steps from this marker); Alaska Purchase (a few steps from this marker); Ladies of the Hill (a few steps from this marker); History of Castle Hill (1804-1867) (a few steps from this marker); Men of the Hill (a few steps from this marker); American Sitka (a few steps from this marker); History of Castle Hill (-1804) (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sitka.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. There are three in all.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 1, 2021

2. History of Castle Hill Marker

Baranof Castle on Castle Hill between 1867 and 1894 image. Click for full size.

Via University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections (AWC1131) / Fair use

3. Baranof Castle on Castle Hill between 1867 and 1894

Baranof Castle in flames image. Click for full size.

Unknown / Public domain, 1894

4. Baranof Castle in flames

Photograph from the online overview of the Alaska Office of History and Archaeology's Castle Hill Archaeological Project, undertaken in the late 1990s.

Agricultural Experimental Station in Sitka image. Click for full size.

U.S. Department of Agriculture / Public domain, circa 1900

5. Agricultural Experimental Station in Sitka

Reproduced from The Agricultural Experiment Stations in the United States, written by Alfred Charles True and V. A. Clark and published by the Government Printing Office.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 182 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 8, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.