Angoon

Introducing Angoon

The lone settlement on Admiralty Island is Angoon, a predominantly Tlingit community. Tlingit tribes occupied the site for centuries, but the original village was wiped out in 1882 when the US Navy, sailing out of Sitka, bombarded the indigenous people after they staged an uprising against a local whaling company. In 1973 Angoon won a $90, 000 out-of-court settlement from the Federal government for the bombardment.

Today the economy is a mixture of commercial fishing and subsistence, and in town the strong indigenous heritage is evident in the painted fronts of the 16 tribal community houses. The old lifestyle is still apparent in this remote community, and time in Angoon can be spent observing and gaining some understanding of the Tlingit culture. Tourism seems to be tolerated only because the village is a port of call for the ferry. It's also a dry community, so you'll find no bars.

The village is perched on a strip of land between Chatham Strait on Admiralty Island's west coast and turbulent Kootznahoo Inlet, which leads into the national monument's interior. The community serves as the departure point for many kayak and canoe trips into the heart of the monument, including the 32-mile Cross Admiralty canoe.

Many people are content to just spend a few days paddling and fishing Mitchell Bay and Salt Lake. To rent a canoe or kayak in Angoon, call Favorite Bay Inn (788-3123, 800-423-3123), which charges $60 a day, less for a rental of six days or longer. The tides here are among the strongest in the world; the walk between the airport and the town allows you to view the turbulent waters at mid-tide. Before undertaking any paddling adventures, stop at the USFS office (788-3182) in Angoon's Community Services Building for information on the tides in Kootznahoo Inlet and Mitchell Bay.

Last updated: Jul 22, 2009