Seward City Information

The Resurrection Bay Historical Museum features artifacts and photographs of the 1964 earthquake, the Russian era in Resurrection Bay and Seward's role in the Iditarod Trail.

St. Peter's Episcopal Church, built in 1906, contains the famous mural of the Resurrection by Dutch artist Jan van Emple who used Alaskan models and the nearby bay as the backdrop.

Small Boat Harbor provides a wonderful opportunity for a leisurely stroll, enjoying the activity centered on fishing boats, charter vessels and many sailboats.

The Alaska SeaLife Center is a large public aquarium that combines research facilities with wildlife rehabilitation and public education. View distinct habitats of marine birds, Steller sea lions, seals, fish and otters.   Injured, abandoned and orphaned animals are cared for with the end goal to return them back to the wild whenever possible.

Downtown Seward invites for a leisurely stroll among a nice variety of giftshops, small restaurants and cafes.

Seward is famous for its fun and very special Fourth of July festivities, which includes food, music, and parades and which attracts thousands of visitors each year.  An important part of these festivities is the Mount Marathon Race, a race to the top of Mount Marathon at 3,022 feet and back down.

 

Exit Glacier, part of Kenai Fjords National Park, is located about 4 miles out of Seward. Exit Glacier Nature Center is open daily in the summer and offers interpretive programs, exhibits and information. A great variety in hiking trails in the Exit Glacier area afford excellent views of the ice and surrounding mountains.

Glacier and wildlife cruises are extremely popular for many visitors to Seward.  Kenai Fjords National Park provides excellent opportunities to view various glaciers as well as whales, sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles, etc.

Resurrection Bay is also famous for its excellent fishing possibilities. Halibut and salmon are abundant and offer great fun both for novice and expert anglers.

Alaskans and visitors alike love sea kayaking in and around Seward.  Explore Resurrection Bay by either guided or unguided tour, lasting anywhere from a few hours to a few days!

The town was founded in 1903 when Alaska Railroad surveyors needed an ice-free port to serve as the ocean terminal for the rail line and Seward prospered as an important cargo and fishing port. Like many towns in Southcentral Alaska, Seward began a new era of history in 1964 after the Good Friday Earthquake caused fires and tidal waves that destroyed 90 percent of the town. The only reminder of the natural disaster is at the public library where the slide show covering the earthquake, 'Seward is Burning,' is shown. The town has completely rebuilt its fine Small Boat Harbor and waterfront facilities with a $10-million dock designed to be earthquake proof.

Population: 2,600

Location: Seward is situated on Resurrection Bay on the east coast of the Kenai Peninsula, 125 highway miles south of Anchorage. It serves as the gateway to the Kenai Fjords National Park.

Access: By road via the Seward Highway, rail from Fairbanks and Anchorage, scheduled bus service from Anchorage, Alaska state ferry, all classes of cruise vessels.