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Haines City Information

Overview

Haines is a very scenic little town tucked away between the Chilkat Mountains on the shores of a long fjord.  It is famous for the large concentration of Bald Eagles that gather in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve every fall, and for excellent bird viewing opportunities in general. The Disney movie White Fang was filmed in Haines

Attractions

Fort William H. Seward:  Established as a result of a border dispute with Canada, Fort William H. Seward was named after the man who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from the Russians.  The Fort was declared a Historic Landmark in 1972.  Decommissioned in 1947, five former veterans purchased the Fort with plans to make it an arts and crafts area of the community.

The Hammer Museum:   A collection of more than 1500 different hammers.

Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center:  Artifacts depict the history of Tlingit culture and history, the pioneer history of the region and the military era of Fort William H. Seward.

Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve:  More than 3,000 eagles come into the Preserve every fall, with the highest concentration usually found in mid-November. The preserve was created by the State of Alaska in 1982 to protect the world's largest concentration of Bald Eagles and their critical habitat. 

History

The Tlingit Indians were the first people to inhabit the Chilkat Valley.  Haines is home of the Chilkat Indians whose mother village is Klukwan, 22 miles north of Haines.  

Haines was named in honor of Francina Haines of the Presbyterian Home Missions Board.

In 1741, the first known meeting between white men and Tlingit took place when a Russian ship anchored near Haines and started the fur trade in the area. In 1892, Jack Dalton established a toll road on the Tlingit trade route in to the interior to cash in on gold-seekers and others heading north into Canada. Parts of the Dalton Trail are now the Haines Highway.

In 1902, ongoing border disputes between the U.S. and Canada caused the construction of the first permanent army post in Alaska. The white buildings of Fort William H. Seward still stand and are a distinctive landmark of Haines. Decommissioned in 1947, the fort was bought by a group of war veterans hoping to establish an arts and commerce community. The buildings are now privately owned  and house homes, restaurants, galleries, and shops.

Other Information