What the record shows
The federal survey describes the site: on Baranof I., at Old Sitka, 6 mi. N of Sitka; Alex. Arch.
"this is the first Russian settlement built in 1799 at Sitka by Alexander Baranov, first governor of Russian American colonies, who named it ""Fort Archangel Gabriel."" from the Tlingit Indians. the fort and killed or captured most of its inhabitants. captives were released after an ultimatum was issued by the officer aboard a British ship in the harbor (Bancroft, 1886, p. 405-406). a new fort called ""Fort Archangel Michael"" at a new location 5 miles to the south which developed into the present city of Sitka."
Fort Saint Michaelappears in the U.S. Geological Survey's place-name archive as a historical populated place — a settlement that once carried a name and no longer does. Our editors are verifying its full story against census records, newspaper archives, and county histories; this record will grow as sources are confirmed.
Before you visit
Unverified sites may sit on private land, and coordinates from historical records can be imprecise. Verify land status and access before traveling. Take photographs, leave nails — removing artifacts from federal land is a crime.
See it in context on the national atlas map.
From the field
The most valuable part of this record is the part only visitors can write.
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