Sights in Kodiak
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Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park
This military fort and its pair of 8in guns were built by the US Army during WWII for a Japanese invasion that never came. In the end, Kodiak's lousy weather, not the army's superior firepower, kept the Japanese bombers away from the island. The fort is now a 186-acre state historical park, sitting majestically on the cliffs above scenic Monashka Bay. Between the guns is Ready Ammunition Bunker, which stored 400 rounds of ammunition during the war. Today it contains the small Kodiak Military History Museum.
Just as interesting as the gun emplacements are the tidal pools found along the park's rocky shorelines, where an afternoon of searching for sea creatures can be spent…
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Pillar Mountain
From the top of this 1270ft mountain behind the city you'll have excellent views of the surrounding mountains, ocean, beaches and islands. One side seems to plunge straight down to the harbor below, and the other overlooks the green interior of Kodiak Island. Pick up the bumpy dirt road to the top by walking or driving north up Thorsheim Ave and turning left on Maple Ave, which runs into Pillar Mountain Rd.
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Kodiak Fisheries Research Center
Opened in 1998 to house the fisheries research being conducted by various agencies, it has an interesting lobby that includes displays, touch tanks and a large aquarium.
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Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository
Preserving the 7500-year heritage of Kodiak's indigenous Alutiiq people is the Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository. The exhibits display one of the largest collections of Alutiiq artifacts in the state, ranging from a kayaker in his waterproof parka of seal gut to a 19th-century spruce-root hat. Take time to explore 'Sharing Words,' an intriguing interactive computer program that uses village elders to teach Alutiiq words and songs in an attempt to save the indigenous language.
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St Herman Harbor
A great place to look for sea lions, which often use the Dog Bay Breakwall as a haulout, while eagles are usually perched in the trees onshore.
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Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
This 2812-sq-mile preserve, which covers the southern two-thirds of Kodiak Island, all of Ban and Uganik Islands and a small section of Afognak Island, is the chief stronghold of the Alaska brown bear. An estimated 2300 bears reside in the refuge and the surrounding area, which is known worldwide for brown-bear hunting and to a lesser degree for salmon and steelhead fishing.
Birdlife is plentiful: more than 200 species have been recorded, and there are 600 breeding pairs of eagles that nest within the refuge. Flowing out of the steep fjords and deep glacial valleys and into the sea are 117 salmon-bearing streams that account for 65% of the total commercial salmon harvest …
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Baranov Museum
Housed in the oldest Russian structure in Alaska is Baranov Museum, across the street from the visitors center. The museum fills the Erskine House, which the Russians built in 1808 as a storehouse for precious sea-otter pelts. Today it holds many items from the Russian period of Kodiak's history along with fine examples of Alutiig basketry and carvings. The gift shop is particularly interesting, offering a wide selection of matreshkas (nesting dolls), brass samovars and other Russian crafts.
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Barometer Mountain
This popular hiking trail is a steep climb and a 4-mile round-trip to the 2452ft summit. To reach the trailhead, follow Chiniak Rd south of Buskin River Campground and turn right on Burma Rd, the first road immediately after passing the end of the airport's runway. Look for a well-worn trail on the left. The trek, which begins in thick alder before climbing the hogback ridge of the mountain, provides spectacular views of Kodiak and the bays south of the city.
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Holy Resurrection Church
Near the museum on Mission Rd is Holy Resurrection Church, which serves the oldest Russian Orthodox parish in the New World, established in 1794. The present church, marked by its beautiful blue onion domes, was built in 1945 and is the third one to occupy this site. Tours are offered at 13:00 daily in summer. The adjacent small gift shop open in the afternoons is stocked with matreshkas, religious books and icons.
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North Sister Mountain
Starting 150ft up a creek bed a mile before the end of Monashka Bay Rd, this trail (find it on the left side of the creek bed) first leads up steeply through dense brush, but then levels off on alpine tundra. The summit of North Sister (2100ft) is the first peak seen (to your left), about a mile from the trailhead. The other two sisters are also accessible from here.
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Kodiak Island Brewing Co
Within town is the delightful Kodiak Island Brewing Co where brewmaster/owner/tour guide Ben Millstein will give you a short talk about the operation and then let you taste the five beers he brews. His Liquid Sunshine is so good you might walk out with a half-gallon growler or even a case-sized party pig.
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North End Park
Reached as soon as you cross the Zharoff Memorial Bridge. The small park is laced by forested trails that converge at a stairway to the shoreline. At low tide you can search the tidal pools here for starfish, sea anemones and other marine life.
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Kodiak Island Winery
Kodiak is also home to several wineries, fermenting everything (except grapes that is) from rhubarb and salmonberries to wild rose. Kodiak Island Winery is a scenic 36 miles out of town and has tours, a gift shop and, of course, wine tasting.
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Kodiak Military History Museum
A small museum housed in the Ready Ammunition Bunker at Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park.
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