| What makes it historical? |
As one of the high points in Sitka, Castle Hill was a super important spot for defense! The Tlingit had a fort on top of Castle Hill, and when the Russian-American Company, led by Alexander Baranov, seized Sitka by force in 1804, they set up their fort here too! Here, the Russian-American Company set up their company and governing operation offices, and from this site, they ran all of Russian operations in Alaska for 59 years!
In 1867, having depleted the sea otter population along the coasts of Alaska, the Russians sold all of Alaska to the United States. Here on Castle Hill, on Oct. 18, 1867, Army Maj. Gen. Lovell Rousseau Russian Commissioner Alexi Peschouroff held the official transfer ceremony, lowering the Russian flag and raising the 43-star American one! |
