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Additional Information pages for Prince of Wales Island
132° 58' W Longitude - 56° 48' N Latitude
Petersburg is located on the north end of Mitkof Island, where the
Wrangell Narrows meet
Frederick Sound. It lies midway between Juneau and Ketchikan, about
120 miles from either community. 
Climate:
Petersburg's climate is characterized by mild winters, cool summers
and year-round rainfall. Average
summer temperatures range from 40 to 56 degree Far. and average
from 27 to 43 degree Far. in winter. Annual precipitation
averages 106.3 inches, including 97 inches of snow.
History:
Tlingit Indians from Kake utilized the north end of Mitkof Island
as a summer fish camp. Some reportedly began living year-round at
the site, including John Lot. Petersburg was named after Peter Buschmann,
a Norwegian immigrant and a pioneer in the cannery business, who
arrived in the late 1890s. He built the Icy Strait Packing Company
cannery, a sawmill, and a dock by 1900. His family's homesteads
grew into this community, populated largely by people of Scandinavian
origin. By 1920, 600 people lived in Petersburg year-round. During
this time, fresh salmon and halibut were packed in glacier ice for
shipment. Alaska's first shrimp processor, Alaska Glacier Seafoods,
was founded in 1916. A cold storage plant was built in 1926. The
cannery has operated continuously,
and is now known as Petersburg Fisheries, a subsidiary of Icicle
Seafoods, Inc.
Today, Petersburg has developed into one of Alaska's major fishing
communities. This non-Native community maintains a mixture
of Tlingit and Scandinavian history. It is known as "Little Norway"
for its history and annual Little Norway Festival during May.
Petersburg's economy has been based on commercial fishing and timber
harvests since the early time and is currently one of the top-ranking
ports in the U.S. for the quality and value of fish landed.
Petersburg has the largest home based halibut fleet in Alaska and
is also known for its shrimp, crab, salmon, herring and other fish.
There is hotels, several motels, bed & breakfast, restaurants,
fast food, many gift shops, a long commercial area on Main Street,
grocery stores, drugstores, travel agencies, banks, churches, public
showers, gas station, laundry facilities, bars, a city hall, a post
office, a public swimming pool and a tent campground. Several public
campgrounds are available in the south of town. 
Points of interest:
Clausen Memorial Museum:
Located at 203 Fram street, near corner of 2nd street, features
the local history of Petersburg. Artifact from the cannery and fisheries,
a world record king salmon caught of 126.5 Lbs, the cape decision
light station lens, a tlingit canoe and a wall piece "land, sea,
sky". Open daily from May 1st through September 21 st, 9:30 am until
4:30 pm. Open only on Wednesdays and Saturdays in winter from
12:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
Little Norway Festival:
Held in May for the celebration of the Norwegian Independence Day.
Several contests, a vicking ship, old country dress, dancing, and
a norwegian fish feed for locals and visitors.
Sons of Norway Hall:
Located on pilings over Hammer Slough. This place was built
in 1912 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
All the window shutter are decorated with norwegian tole painting.
The Fisk:
Located right in front of the Museum. A 10 foot bronze sculpture
commemorative of Petersburg's fishing tradition. The sculpture
was made by Carson Boysen in 1967.
King Salmon Derby:
Held during king salmon season in early summer, numerous prizes
are awarded. Check with the local chamber of commerce for specific
date and prizes.
LeConte Glacier:
Located in LeConte Bay, 25 miles east of Petersburg, is the continent
southernmost tidewater glacier. It is a fast moving glacier where
ice fall into the bay continually. Seals, whales and purpoises
are often seen in the Bay. Numerous local charters are available
to take you there by boat, airplane or helicopter.
Crystal Lake Fish Hatchery:
Located at milepost 17.5 of the Mitkof Hwy, the state hatchery is
providing coho, king and steelhead for fish stocking program in
the southeast. Open from 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday.
No guided tours available, only employees will explain operation.
Local Facilities:
- Sandy Beach
Recreation Area
Located at milepost
2.8 of Sandy Beach Road, has picnic tables, playground, volleyball court,
shelter, toilets, and some limited parking. No camping allowed.
- Blind Slough Recreation
Area
Located near milepost
17.5 of the Mitkof Hwy, has picnic tables, shelter, and toilets. No overnight
camping allowed.
- Manmade Hole
Located at milepost
20 of the Mitkof Hwy, has picnic tables, fire pits, swimming and a short trail.
Good fishing for cutthroat and dolly varden. Ice skating available on
the lake in winter.
- Ohmer Creek Campground
Located at milepost
21.7 of Mitkof Hwy, has 10 campsites (2 are wheelchair accessible), toilets,
picnic table, parking area, fire pits and drinking water. Accommodation
for RV limited to 32 feet long.
Summer Strait Campground
(also called Green's Camp)
Intersection with
side road of 0.7 mile at milepost 26.1 of Mitkof Hwy, has no facilities and
may not be accessible during high tides.
- Wilson Creek State
Recreation Area
Located at milepost
28 of Mitkof Hwy, has picnic tables, outhouse, parking area, and excellent
view of Summer Strait.
Visit the town of Saxman
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