Alaska, Its Southern Coast and the Sitkan Archipelago

A richly detailed travelogue brings listeners aboard the steamship that ferried eager tourists along the southern coast of Alaska in the 1880s. Compiled from a series of newspaper letters, the narrative follows a summer itinerary that threads from Port Townsend through Victoria, Nanaimo, and the mist‑shrouded Tongass, before reaching the bustling port of Sitka. Along the way, vivid descriptions of towering glaciers, rugged bays, and the striking Sitkan Archipelago are paired with period illustrations and a hand‑drawn map, giving a sense of both geography and atmosphere.

The author weaves observations of native Tlingit villages, fur‑trading forts, and fledgling mining camps with commentary from scholars, explorers, and government officials of the era. Readers hear anecdotes about the daily life of traders, the striking architecture of the Greek Church, and the raw beauty of places like the Muir Glacier, all conveyed in a clear, conversational style.

For anyone curious about Alaska’s early days of exploration, natural wonder, and cultural encounter, this collection offers an immersive snapshot of a frontier landscape before modern development reshaped it.