Seward

Seward, situated at the head of Resurrection Bay, a scenic, ice-free, deepwater harbor, on the Kenai Peninsula, is one of Alaska's oldest and most scenic communities.

Known as the "Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park," Seward is a picturesque town located 126 miles south of Anchorage. Visitors can easily reach us via the Seward Highway Scenic Byway, the Alaska Railroad, bus, air, or cruise ship. Upon your arrival you will discover our bustling harbor and historic downtown district filled with quaint shops and art galleries. Experience trophy sport fishing, glacier and wildlife cruises, sailing, hiking, kayaking, flightseeing, summer dog sled rides, and more. Seward is also a winter wonderland offering cross-country skiing and snowmachining adventures.

Seward boasts an extensive small boat harbor, which has showers, restrooms, phone, fresh water, dump station, marine weather information, transient boat and float plane dock. There are 550 slips, a boat lift and other services. Call the harbormaster's office (224-3138) for further information.

Some 30 charter boats holding from six to 70 passengers offer fishing, sightseeing, wildlife photography, even sailing.

Home to over 250 sailboats, Seward has three active yacht clubs that provide services and support. Sailing instruction, beginning through advanced, is conducted summers with an assist from what is touted as some of the best and most predictable summer winds north of San Francisco Bay. Bareboating, skippered sailing charters and a racing program are available.

Stop by the Seward Chamber of Commerce information center at 2001 Seward highway. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Visitor information is also available by telephone. Call (907) 224-8051 year round, (907) 224-3094 summer.

A wide range of accommodations, restaurants, RV parks, tent camping, and visitor services are available. Wherever you go in Seward, you‚ll find friendly hospitality and a sense of pride among our residents. We invite you to visit our community anytime of year and experience the real Alaska!

While in Seward be sure to visit the historic railcar "Seward" at Third and Jefferson. The bright blue and gold railroad car was built in 1916 by the Pullman Company and later bought by the Alaska Railroad. The car was given to the city in 1964.

Kenai Fjords National Park visitor center is situated at the small boat harbor and is open every day between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and Monday through Friday the rest of the year. Tourist information, exhibits, slide programs and publications may be obtained here.

Seward was founded in 1903 when a railroad construction party landed at Resurrection Bay to build a town and dock and to start laying a railroad inland.

Before that, Alexander Baranoff in 1783 chose this spot as a shipyard for "Russian America." The following year, the first ship to be built in Alaska by Russians, the Phoenix, was launched. Shipbuilding for the colony ceased here in 1799 and little more is known about the settlement, according to the Resurrection Bay Historical Society.

The town was named in honor of William H. Seward, the Secretary of State who arranged the purchase of Alaska from Russia. Resurrection Bay was named by Baronanoff in 1791 when that fur trader-explorer sought shelter from a storm on the Russian Sunday of the Resurrection.

What to see and do

Walking tour: Obtain the self-guiding walking tour and map at the Chamber of Commerce of the Information Cache, Third and Jefferson, and visualize Seward in the early days as you view old homes and businesses.

The tour includes elegant "Millionaire's Row," homes built around 1905 or soon after by railroad men, bankers and others; the Weselyan nursing Home and Seward General Hospital, both built in the 1950s; the Mount marathon Race starting point; Lowell Canyon diversion tunnel; St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Seward's first church (built in 1906); the Resurrection Lutheran Church, built and first occupied by Methodists in 1916, and the former Sacred heart Catholic Church )1920), now privately owned.

Also on the tour: Brown and Hawkins, the oldest family operated business still in existence in Seward; Seward Hardware building and others.

Stop by the Institute of Marine Science at the end of Third Ave. Operated by the University of Alaska, exhibits and films center on marine life and the work of the institute.

The Alaska Sealife Center, located at the end of Fourth Ave., open daily from 8 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. is a unique marriage of public education and marine mammal and bird research and rehabilitation. Take a tour starting with a movie of the sights and sounds of Resurrection Bay and Prince William Sound. Others sites on the tour include a rotating exhibit, the Alaska Waters Gallery, Discovery Zone (the tidepool touch tank), peer through a window into a wet laboratory, a wing that houses three realistic exhibits of birds, Stellar sea lions and harbor seals. On the bottom floor you can watch these same animals swimming around and through underwater archways.

The Seward Community Library at Fifth and Adams streets, shows a film about the 1964 earthquake regularly during the tourist season.

Two Lakes Trail. This mile-long trail wanders by the first lake, bridges a salmon spawning creek and meanders over other bridges to the second lake.

Special Events

Polar Bear Jump-Off Festival: This four-day festival, third week in January, features costumed "critters" who plunge into Resurrection Bay to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Other chill-chasing events include dog races and weight pulls; seafood feed, parade, bachelor auction, ugly fish toss and more.

Seward Halibut Jackpot Tournament: Sponsored by the Seward Chamber of Commerce. The contest runs from May 1st through August 1st.

Exit Glacier Run - Sponsored by Seward Parks & Rec.

Mt. Marathon Race and 4th of July Celebration – The traditional race began when 2 sourdoughs had an argument about whether it was possible to climb and descend the mountain in less than an hour. Today there is a men’s and women’s race with 300 entrants each, and a junior race of 200 entrants. The grueling 3 1/4 mile race goes up a 3,022 foot mountain and back down. Other festivities include a Mini Mt. Marathon for kids, games, parade, fireworks, and many other activities. Sponsored by the Seward Chamber of Commerce, 907- 224-8051.

Seward Silver Salmon Derby. Aug. 10th - 18th in 2002 Alaska's richest fishing derby starts each year on the second Saturday in August. First prize is several thousand dollars, with substantial sweepstakes, daily prizes and tagged fish rewards, as well.

Holiday Train - The fist part of December. Take a scenic winter train ride on the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Seward and return. While in Seward, participate in the many special activities planned for the day, visit the Alaska SeaLife Center and get in some holiday shopping. For details, call the Seward Chamber of Commerce at 224-8051 or the Alaska Railroad at (907) 265-2494.