FREE www.petersburg.org PetersburgPetersburg Little Norway. Big Adventure. 2021 Viking Visitor Guide & Vacation Planner 2021 Petersburg Viking Visitor Guide Page A-1 Information about this Visitor Guide This guide is a hybrid version of our 2020 edition, which went largely unused during the pandemic plagued year which brought the visitor industry to a halt. With the cooperation of our advertisers, we are able to use the inside pages of last year’s publication and print a new cover section that includes space for new advertisers. See page B-1 for advertiser revisions. ON THE COVER: Stellar Sea Lions at rest on the Red Can at the Sightseeing & intersection of Wrangell Narrows and Frederick Sound. The navigational buoy is a popular hangout for both mammals and birds like the Pelagic Cormorant, seen atop Transportation the structure. Throughout S.E. Alaska and Petersburg Area Photo by Carey Carmichael Case/Wild Iris Photography • SIGHTSEEING An official publication of the PETERSBURG -Devil’s Thumb CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, P.O. Box 649, Petersburg, Alaska 99833, Phone: (907)772-3646 -LeConte Glacier WEBSITE: www.petersburg.org -Wildlife VIKING VISITOR GUIDE PUBLISHED SINCE 1979 by -Whales PILOT PUBLISHING, INC. Contents Copyright 2021. ABIN All photos in the Guide courtesy of Petersburg Pilot • USFS C unless otherwise noted. ACCESS • HUNTING TRIPS • FISHING TRIPS El Zarape • REMOTE LAKES FLY-IN • FREIGHT Mexican Food Tacos, Burritos, Nachos LOCATED Hamburgers & more AT LLOYD R. ROUNDTREE SERVING BREAKFAST SEAPLANE FACILITY EVERY DAY 7AM - 12 PM 907-518-1957 or 907-723-1053 Downtown Petersburg Email: [email protected] @Petersburg Flying Service LLC Summer Hours: Open 7 days a week 11a-8p Winter Hours: Open 7 days a week 11a-7p N. Nordic Dr. and Fram Street Petersburg Phone: (907) 518-1611 Flying Service, LLC Revised advertising to an ad on page 11 Page B-1 Petersburg Viking Visitor Guide ADVERTISER REVISIONS INGA’S GALLEY - Ad on page 31 New phone number 808-430-8019 Serving Thai Food by Wear Eide Providing special events with Live Music EL ZARAPE - Ad on page A-1 HARBOR WAY PARTS, INC – Ad on page 43 Now under new ownership and operates as Take a walking tour of 12 trash High Tide Parts at the same location. cans inspired by historic labels of Petersburg area canneries. TAMICO – Ad on page 15 Many of the labels are special to No longer provides propane services. Petersburg, and showcase the strong civic pride Now provided by Alaska Fibre, Inc. locals share and family histories that helped build See ad on page A-44 this unique fishing community. PACIFIC WINGS, LLC - Ad on page 4 Colorful, historic salmon Out of business can trash bins line streets “One Family, Two Journeys” Over 40 Years of Experience! ZEUS CREWZ Together we can customize a 2-5 day trip for up to 5 people at a time, designed by you with our guidance. With a crew license you could become part of the Zeus Crew. ✦ COMMERCIAL FISHING ✦ BEAR/WILDLIFE VIEWING ✦ CAMPING/HIKING/KAYAKING ✦ HOT SPRINGS ✦ FRESH LOCAL SEAFOOD ✦ FIVE FINGER LIGHTHOUSE VIEWING ✦ NATIVE HISTORICAL SITES POINT RETREAT ✦ GLACIER DINNER CRUISE ✦ SOLITUDE AT OUR RIVERFRONT CABIN This tour vessel provides a roomy, ✦ ECOTOURISM Call Captain Rob at 907-518-0265 heated cabin with elevated booth ✦ LOCAL SEAFOOD seating for 13 passengers. She has DELIGHTS AVAILABLE Email at [email protected] ideal deck space for sightseeing ✦ WATER TAXI and photography. ✦ COMFORTABLE USCG Licensed and Insured ✦ TOURS TO LECONTE GLACIER RESTROOM ✦ WHALE AND MARINE Book Online - MAMMAL TOURS SeekAK.com Web: SeekAK.com Email: [email protected] Facebook and Instagram: Seek Alaska Tours MAKE US YOUR ALASKA FERRY HEADQUARTERS CALL NOW! 1(800) 327-2571 BELLA VISTA or visit us online at www.AlaskaFerry.com GARNET MINE Four Hour Excursions ~ PETERSBURG AND ALASKA TOURS ~ Garnets Guaranteed! • Whale Watching • LeConte Glacier Bay Boat and Air Tours • Families Welcome! For Reservations: • Helicopter Flightseeing & Glacier Walk • Call: 1 (703) 835-5714 • Half and Full Day Guided Kayak Tours • Anan Bear Trips • Email: [email protected] ~ ALASKA TRIP PLANNING ~ Last Minute Air Travel, Sightseeing Tours, Lodging and More Let Viking Travel make your Alaska trip planning a breeze! VIKING TRAVEL, INC. 1(907) 772-3818 • 1(800) 327-2571 • PO Box 787 101 N. Nordic Dr. • Petersburg, AK 99833 www.AlaskaFerry.com Last Minute Travel Specialists Since 1979 The Petersburg Chamber of Commerce welcomes you Please visit us at our website: www.petersburg.org VISITOR INFORMATION • Maps • Visitor Guides • Activity & Tour Info • Answers to All Petersburg Questions • Public Restroom • Corner of 1st & Fram Sts. Photo courtesy of Carey Carmichael Case / Wild Iris Photography PETERSBURG VISITOR CENTER P.O. Box 649 • Petersburg, Alaska 99833 Phone:907-772-4636 Page 2 Petersburg Viking Visitor Guide Point of Interest on Mitkof Island . .25 Table of Contents LeConte Glacier . .30-31 Velkommen to Little Norway . .3 Bears . .32 Getting to Petersburg . .4 RVs Are Welcome . .32 Little Norway . .5 Cannery Park . .33 Petersburg Facts and Stats . .6-7 Walks and Hikes . .34-37 Community Events . .8 Commercial Fishing . .38-39 Churches . .8 Five Finger Lighthouse . .41 52 Things to Do in Petersburg . .9-11 Devil’s Thumb . .42-43 Attractions for Visitors . .12-15 Advertiser’s Index . .44 Restrooms . .13 Weather . .44 Norwegian Dishes . .16 PILOT PUBLISHING, INC. Wildlife Viewing Tips . .17 VIKING VISITOR GUIDE PUBLISHED SINCE 1979 Humpback Whales . .18-19 Phone: 907-772-9393 Walking Tour through Petersburg . 20-29 207 N.Nordic Dr. • P.O. Box 930 • FAX 907-772-4871 Petersburg Map . .22-23 email: [email protected] website: www.petersburgpilot.com Publishers Ron & Anne Loesch © Copyright 2020 Mitkof Island Map . .24 All photos in the guide included courtesy of the Petersburg Pilot, unless otherwise stated. In Case You Need Us! BROWSE FOR BOOKS AND UNIQUE GIFTS Ambulance . .911 IN THE PETERSBURG BOARDING HOUSE Fire . .911 Visit our Police . .(772-3838) 911 Alaska Room Hospital . .772-4291 • Local Art Borough Clerk . .772-5405 • Alaska books, cards Borough Manager . .772-5402 and maps • Native design Finance Director . .772-5401 products, ivory and Harbormaster . .772-4688 antler carvings Library . .772-3349 • Surprises around Power & Light . .772-4203 every corner Public Works . .772-4430 We sell stamps and ship purchases. Community Gym . .772-3392 LOCATED ON HISTORIC SING LEE ALLEY Swimming Pool . .772-3304 Sponsored as a public service by: Mon. - Sat. 9:30 to 5:30 Petersburg Sunday 10 to 4 Borough 772-4440 • FIND US ON FACEBOOK Petersburg Viking Visitor Guide Page 3 Velkommen to Little Norway Welcome to Petersburg, known for its Norwegian heritage and evolved into Petersburg Fisheries Inc., now the largest seafood for harboring one of Alaska’s most prosperous fishing fleets. processor in town as measured by canning capacity. Petersburg Fishing began approximately 2,000 years ago northeast of Fisheries eventually developed into a major seafood-processing Petersburg at Sandy Beach. The beach area served as a fish camp corporation, Icicle Seafoods Inc. Their parent company is Cooke for local Natives of Tlingit heritage. Aquaculture, based on the East Coast of the U.S. The region turned into a year-round community around the turn Many of Petersburg’s residents can trace their heritage back to of the 20th century after a Nor- Norwegian ancestors, who fol- wegian, Peter Buschmann, eyed lowed Peter Buschmann to the the blue ice of LeConte Glacier. snowy mountains and fjords that Buschmann decided the north reminded them of home. At one end of Mitkof Island, with glacier time, Norwegian was commonly ice available nearby, would be an heard on the town’s wooden ideal spot for a cannery. streets and Norwegian Constitu- In 1897, construction began on tion Day is still celebrated during the new site for Icy Straits Pack- the Little Norway Festival each ing Co., for which Buschmann May. was manager. Icy Straits also built a sawmill to cut lumber for Fishing continues to be the backbone of the economy, with the building of the cannery, which was completed in 1900. some $45.1 million in seafood landed and processed. Tourism Docks, homes, warehouses and other businesses sprang up has replaced logging as a driver of the local economy. Small around the cannery and in 1910 the city of Petersburg was incor- timber harvests continue on a much more limited basis. porated. Ours is a busy, working fishing community that enjoys hosting Icy Straits, after changing hands several times, eventually summer visitors. Waterfront Dining at an historic salmon cannery The restaurant features a wide selection of appetizers: ²Custom Processing of Your Catch ²Deliver your catch dockside • STEAMER CLAMS • SEARED AHI ² Smoking and/or Canning & Shipping Mail Order Service/ • SHRIMP WONTONS • NACHOS ²Retail Seafood Products Available Year-round Shipping Main entrees feature: • Steaks • Seafood Other local 907-772-3662 favorites • Fettuccine www.tonkaseafoods.com Looking for nightly, weekly or monthly rentals? P.O. Box 1420 • Petersburg, AK 99833 We have those available also! 1200 S. Nordic Drive Just South of the Ferry Terminal Downtown Petersburg Nordic Drive Tonka Seafoods Coast Ferry Mitkof Call to Schedule - 772-3888 • 384 Mitkof Highway, Petersburg, Alaska Float Guard Terminal Cannery plane Email: [email protected] South Harbor dock Page 4 Petersburg Viking Visitor Guide Getting to Petersburg Getting to Petersburg is part of the adventure. To reach Mitkof Island, where Petersburg is located, you will have to fly or float. Many visitors arrive on Alaska Marine Highway ferries. Small cruise ships also bring guests to our shores. Alaska Airlines provides twice-daily jet service from Seattle or Anchorage and several smaller scheduled and char- tered air taxis serve Petersburg from throughout Southeast Alaska. And best of all, Petersburg is off the beaten path of the large cruise ships, keeping it less crowded than many tourist destinations.