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Coordinates: 53°53′17″N 166°32′40″W / 53.88806°N 166.54444°W / 53.88806; -166.54444
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{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox nrhp
{{Infobox NRHP
| name =Sitka Spruce Plantation
| name = Sitka Spruce Plantation
| nrhp_type =nhl
| nrhp_type = nhl
| image =
| image = SitkaSprucePlantation.png
| caption =
| caption = An 1899 photograph of the plantation
| nearest_city= [[Unalaska, Alaska]]
| nearest_city = [[Unalaska, Alaska]]
| lat_degrees = 53
| coordinates = {{coord|53|53|17|N|166|32|40|W|display=inline,title}}
| lat_minutes = 53
⚫
| locmapin = Alaska
| lat_seconds = 18.64
| area = less than 1 acre
| lat_direction = N
| built = 1805
| long_degrees = 166
| architect =
| long_minutes = 32
⚫
| architecture =
| long_seconds = 23.14
⚫
| designated_nrhp_type = June 02, 1978<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1743&ResourceType=Site
| long_direction = W
⚫
| locmapin = Alaska
| area =
| built =1805
| architect=
⚫
| architecture=
⚫
| designated_nrhp_type= June 02, 1978<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1743&ResourceType=Site
|title=Sitka Spruce Plantation |accessdate=2008-01-07|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
|title=Sitka Spruce Plantation |accessdate=2008-01-07|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
| added = February 14, 1978
| added = February 14, 1978<ref name="nris">{{cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
| refnum = 78000513<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
| governing_body = Private
| designated_other1 = Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
| refnum=78000513
| designated_other1_name = Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
| designated_other1_color = #A8EDEF
| designated_other1_abbr = AHRS
| designated_other1_date = December 15, 1975
| designated_other1_number = UNL-074
| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
}}
}}


'''Sitka Spruce Park''' is a public park in the city of [[Unalaska, Alaska]]. The roughly {{convert|5|acre|ha|adj=on}} park is located on Biorka Drive on [[Amaknak Island]], south of [[Unalaska Airport]]. It is one of the few places on the island where there are a significant number of trees. A small part of the park is a [[National Historic Landmark]], as it was the site of the earliest documented [[afforestation]] in North America. In 1805, Russian agents planted an unknown number of [[Sitka spruce]] trees in the area, of which six were documented to be surviving in 1978.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/>
'''Sitka Spruce Plantation''', also known as '''The Forest''' or '''AHRS UNL-074''', is the first afforestation site in North America, in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. By this project, the Russians, in 1805, sought to make the Unalaska community self-sufficient in timber.


==History==
⚫
It was declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1978.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite document|title={{PDFlink|[http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/78000513.pdf National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Sitka Spruce Plantation (AHRS UNL 074) / "The Forest"]|464&nbsp;KB}}|date=December 15, 1975 |author=Joan M. Antonson |publisher=National Park Service|postscript=<!--None-->}} and {{PDFlink|[http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/78000513.pdf ''Accompanying 4 photos from 1975.'']|1.20&nbsp;MB}}</ref>
Amaknak Island was naturally treeless, lying well outside the known growing range for trees in either Alaska or [[Siberia]]. The forestation attempt was ordered in 1805 by [[Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov]], a principal in the [[Russian-American Company]] who had secured a monopoly on the fur trade in the area. It was reported ten years later that only a small number of trees were still alive. In 1834 Bishop [[Ivan Veniaminov]] reported that there were 24 trees, several of which were more than {{convert|7|ft|m}} tall. Veniaminov spearheaded a second forestation effort at a second site on Expedition Island, about {{convert|1|mi|km}} south of the first site.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/>


The site was first documented by a professional [[botanist]] in 1899 when [[Bernhard Fernow]] visited Unalaska Island with the [[Harriman Alaska Expedition]]. At that time there were 19 trees, the tallest over {{convert|30|ft|m}}. The site has since then been the subject of periodic reports. Prior to [[World War II]] there ten trees standing, four of which were probably killed as a result of the [[United States Army]]'s partial filling in of a nearby pond with gravel.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/>
⚫
==References==
<references />


[[Image:Sitka Spruce Plantation (20546572495).jpg|thumb|left|The plantation c. 2013]]
⚫
{{Registered Historic Places}}
⚫
As of 1975, six of the originally planted trees still stood.<ref name="nhlsum"/> The site was declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] and listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1978.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite journal|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Sitka Spruce Plantation (AHRS UNL 074) / "The Forest"|url={{NHLS url|id=78000513}} |format=pdf|date=December 15, 1975 |author=Joan M. Antonson |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{NHLS url|id=78000513|title=''Accompanying 4 photos from 1975.''|photos=y}}&nbsp;{{small|(1.20&nbsp;MB)}}</ref>


==See also==
⚫
[[Category:Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Alaska]]
*[[List of National Historic Landmarks in Alaska]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska]]


⚫
==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
{{Alaska-NRHP-stub}}
*[http://www.ci.unalaska.ak.us/parksrec/page/sitka-spruce-park City of Unalaska: Sitka Spruce Park]

{{NRHP in Alaska by borough and census area}}
⚫
{{National Register of Historic Places}}

[[Category:Parks in Alaska]]
[[Category:Unalaska, Alaska]]
⚫
[[Category:Geography of Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Alaska]]
[[Category:1805 establishments in the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:1805 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska]]
[[Category:Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Alaska]]

Latest revision as of 05:30, 9 August 2023

Sitka Spruce Plantation
Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
An 1899 photograph of the plantation
Sitka Spruce Park is located in Alaska
Sitka Spruce Park
Nearest cityUnalaska, Alaska
Coordinates53°53′17″N 166°32′40″W / 53.88806°N 166.54444°W / 53.88806; -166.54444
Arealess than 1 acre
Built1805
NRHP reference No.78000513[1]
AHRS No.UNL-074
Significant dates
Added to NRHPFebruary 14, 1978
Designated NHLJune 02, 1978[2]
Designated AHRSDecember 15, 1975

Sitka Spruce Park is a public park in the city of Unalaska, Alaska. The roughly 5-acre (2.0 ha) park is located on Biorka Drive on Amaknak Island, south of Unalaska Airport. It is one of the few places on the island where there are a significant number of trees. A small part of the park is a National Historic Landmark, as it was the site of the earliest documented afforestation in North America. In 1805, Russian agents planted an unknown number of Sitka spruce trees in the area, of which six were documented to be surviving in 1978.[3]

History

[edit]

Amaknak Island was naturally treeless, lying well outside the known growing range for trees in either Alaska or Siberia. The forestation attempt was ordered in 1805 by Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov, a principal in the Russian-American Company who had secured a monopoly on the fur trade in the area. It was reported ten years later that only a small number of trees were still alive. In 1834 Bishop Ivan Veniaminov reported that there were 24 trees, several of which were more than 7 feet (2.1 m) tall. Veniaminov spearheaded a second forestation effort at a second site on Expedition Island, about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the first site.[3]

The site was first documented by a professional botanist in 1899 when Bernhard Fernow visited Unalaska Island with the Harriman Alaska Expedition. At that time there were 19 trees, the tallest over 30 feet (9.1 m). The site has since then been the subject of periodic reports. Prior to World War II there ten trees standing, four of which were probably killed as a result of the United States Army's partial filling in of a nearby pond with gravel.[3]

The plantation c. 2013

As of 1975, six of the originally planted trees still stood.[2] The site was declared a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[2][3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c "Sitka Spruce Plantation". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d Joan M. Antonson (December 15, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Sitka Spruce Plantation (AHRS UNL 074) / "The Forest"" (pdf). National Park Service. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying 4 photos from 1975. (1.20 MB)
[edit]
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