The Sitka International Hostel Welcomes You

A welcoming attitude will envelope you upon your arrival at the Sitka International Hostel. Our house parents look forward to meeting travelers from around the nation and from around the world. Additionally, Sitka is an hospitable community with a diverse population. You'll be made to feel right at home.

Sitka - An Historic Community

Sitka has been a center of human habitation for nearly 10,000 years and has featured European settlement for more than 200 years. Sitka was at the heart of much of Alaska's Russian colonial history. Transfer of the "Great Land" from Russian control to American rule occurred in 1867, at the summit of Castle Hill overlooking downtown Sitka. The community has preserved a great deal of its Native heritage, as well, and is home to many who keep alive the customs of the Tlingit, the Haida and other Alaska Native peoples.

The Tongass National Forest, administered by the USDA Forest Service, surrounds Sitka. Created by President Theodore Roosevelt in the early 1900s, the "Tongass" is one of the world's premier temperate rain forests. Also of interest is Sitka's World War II history. Echoes of the involvement of the US Navy and US Army in Sitka can be seen on Japonski Island, across the striking O'Connell Bridge from the town center.

Come Visit Sitka