Historical Research and Interpretive Development for Russian American Historical Themes and Significance of Sitka NHP
Sitka National Historical Park is one of only two national historical parks in the Alaska Region. One of the park���s primary legislated significance is to commemorate the expansion of the Russian Empire into Alaska, and the lasting influence that expansion has had on the political, social, and economic life of Alaska and the United States, more broadly, through the purchase of Russian interests in Alaska in 1867. The primary physical asset---and interpretive setting---for explaining the legislated significance is the Russian Bishops House. As a historical park, there is a presumption that Sitka NHP will maintain an active history program that continuously contributes to scholarship and understanding of the Russian American period in Alaska, among other topics. Park managers have generally been active in pursuing funding, organizing and conducting conferences, and sponsoring studies that contribute to scholarship. However, there has been less emphasis on building a program of historical scholarship. To address this, park managers commissioned a recent study (Allan 2015) that evaluated the program and made substantive suggestions about what studies would contribute the most to improving visitor understanding of Russian America and the relationship of Russian expansion to changes in Tlingit, Haida, and Aleut lifeways---and the broader scope of American history. Additionally, there have been discussions between park managers and the OHA on what joint projects might best represent the influence of the Alaska Purchase on American history. The Office of History and Archeology for the State of Alaska is the designated repository for information related to archeological and historical sites across the state. It has National Historical Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 responsibilities to review projects funded with federal funds, maintains the states master files on historical sites throughout the State of Alaska, and inventories state lands for sites, among other functions. Of the historical periods that are unique to Alaska, the Russian occupation and colonization is one that sets the state apart from other states in the US, and it has been the focus of ongoing work both at OHA and other state institutions (e.g. University of Alaska, Fairbanks). Currently, the OHA has one Russian-speaker on staff, as well as several other staff members with over ten years��� experience each researching Russian American sites and topics. The office currently employs the author of Sitka NHP���s administrative history (Antonson 1998), making oversight of the project even more robust. The combination of easy access to the state site files, state archives, and experienced personnel, make the OHA a good partner to conduct research with Sitka NHP and develop joint products to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Alaska Purchase.
Office: National Park Service
Erica_Cordeiro@nps.gov
