Emmons House

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Sitka, AK
Emmons House

*Private home. Please do not disturb residents. He also served in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and American Civil War (1861-1865). F. E. Navy Lt. Thank-you.

Guests of the Historic Emmons House enjoy incredible views with easy access to trails and the oceanfront from this centrally located home. Overlooking the downtown harbor and one block from downtown, this spacious 3-bedroom home offers a convenient base for all Sitka adventures, along with views of the Pacific Ocean dotted with forested islands, mountains topped with alpine meadows, eagles flying,

and fishing boats coming and going from port.

“Sitka…where all our men are hardy, our women are even hardier, and our children are worth bragging about.”

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Captain George Foster Emmons (1811-1884), commander of the USS Ossipee, sailed into the Sitka harbor with the United States and Russian Commissioners for the ceremony transferring the Alaskan territory to the United States on October 18, 1867. He began his distinguished career as a midshipman on April 1, 1828, and as a lieutenant aboard the USS Peacock, he participated in the Wilkes Exploring Expedition of 1838-42, which discovered the Antarctic Continent. He was assigned command of the expedition's overland party conducting surveys and exploration from Puget Sound south to San Francisco. He became commodore in 1868, Chief of the Hydrographic Office in 1870, and Rear Admiral in 1872. As a Rear Admiral, he commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard until his retirement in 1873. The USS Emmons, sponsored by his granddaughter Mrs. Peacock, was a Gleaves-class destroyer launched on August 23, 1941. The ship was commissioned on December 5, 1941, and was sunk by the USS Ellyson on April 7, 1945, after suffering five hits from Kamikaze aircraft on the afternoon of April 6, 1945. In 1895, nearly 30 years after his father sailed into Sitka, his son, U.S. George Thornton Emmons (1852-1945), and his wife May, built this house for their family. The original structure was a boxy American Foursquare design that followed the Russian public and residence building style which dominated the Sitka scene during the transitional period of architecture (1890-1930). It was the first house in Sitka to have plastered walls and was reputed as the place where important visitors such as John Muir dined. In 1929, the Emmons House was captured in a historic photograph of aviation history when the bi-plane named "Sitka" carrying a U.S. Navy crew conducting a geological survey in Southeast Alaska landed on the beach in front of the house. By 1966, the harbor was dredged and made Crescent Harbor ideal for private and commercial boats. The site of the Emmons House was and still is one of the most desirable 'view lots' in town and in a line with St. Peter's by-The-Sea Episcopal Church and its rectory, the See House, Yaw House, deGroff-Vanderbilt House and the cottages and campus of Sheldon Jackson College on the old Beach Road, now Lincoln Street on Crescent Harbor. The Emmons House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Lt. Emmons was stationed on the USS Pinta, a 137-foot long x 26-foot beam single screw, iron-hulled tug, which patrolled the Alaskan waters protecting the seal fisheries. He served in Sitka for only four years and then became an ethnographic photographer. He was particularly interested in the Native cultures of Southeast Alaska, collecting many Tlingit artifacts, but only those pieces no longer used by the people, and carefully recorded the history of each piece. He frequently returned to the area to continue his research. Some of his collected artifacts were donated or purchased by the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, and the University of Washington Seattle Burke Museum. Some of these objects have been returned to the native community. His photographs are archived in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Emmons wrote several books including "The Chilkat Blanket," "The Basketry of the Tlingit," and "The Tahltan Indians." His ethnological report on the Native tribes of Southeast Alaska remains an important resource. After Emmons died in 1945, pioneering archaeologist and ethnographer of northwestern North America, Frederica de Laguna, used his manuscript to edit and publish as the book, "The Tlingit Indians," a project she had begun in 1955 and finally published in 1991. Emmons is also known for his work for President Theodore Roosevelt on the 1901 Alaskan-Canadian Boundary Dispute, as well as his "Report on the Conditions of the Natives of Alaska" requested by Roosevelt. On January 19, 1905, Roosevelt wrote to the Senate and House of Representatives: "Lt. Emmons had for many years peculiar facilities for ascertaining the facts about the natives of Alaska and has recently concluded an investigation made on the ground by my special directions. I very earnestly ask the attention of Congress to the facts set forth in this report as to the needs of the native people of Alaska. It seems to me that our honor as a nation is involved in seeing that these needs are met. I earnestly hope that legislation along the general lines advocated by Lt. Emmons can be enacted."

*Private home.

09/10/2024

09/10/2024

09/10/2024

Green? For a rainforest? Groundbreaking.

Everyone loves a good monochromatic look. Here in the temperate rainforest we have many shades of green all year round. From our western hemlocks to the many types of mosses and lichen found in the park, you can always find your perfect shade of green.

Photo: a photo collage of six images that are different sized rectangles. Starting in the top left corner, the rows feature twisted stalk leaves, moss, western hemlock needles, old man’s beard, fern leaves, and a devil’s club leaf.

09/05/2024

Hey friends! We are back and ready for you 🐶 We are open regular hours Tues-Sat from 11-5:30. We are able to process credit card payments up to $150; cash and check are always accepted!

Thanks again for all of your patience as we got everything figured out!

09/05/2024

Meet Qigiq, a Snowy Owl here at the Alaska Raptor Center. Unlike many of their nocturnal counterparts, Snowy Owls are diurnal, embracing the endless Arctic summer days to hunt tirelessly! Did you know Snowy Owls may devour over 1,600 lemmings in a single year?

09/05/2024

F/V Freeland leaving Sitka, Alaska.

09/05/2024

Due to bad weather, our last Mt. Edgecumbe community hike has been rescheduled to Saturday, September 14th. With the new date, we have lots of seats and multiple scholarships available thanks to .ak. Sign up on our website to attend and email [email protected] for scholarship information!

09/03/2024

08/27/2024

"Over the past five years we’ve tested 31 styles and researched hundreds of rain boots. Whether you’re walking city sidewalks, wading through runoff, or just trying to stay upright on slippery subway tile, we have 7 recommendations—led by our top pick, the Xtratuf Ankle Deck Boot (in women’s and men’s sizes)—for standout designs that have withstood years of testing and abuse from the Wirecutter team."

We’ve found 10 pairs of rain boots that’ll do more than just keep your feet dry—they’ll match your style and environment no matter what you need.

08/18/2024

Learn to let each day go and do not let yesterday’s trash destroy today. Take advantage of the new day and make it the best you can. Just, let it go and move on. –Tyler Eddy
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I knew where I wanted to be for the moon rise and I did not get there a moment to soon. The O’Connell Bridge in Sitka, Alaska was finished in 1972 and connected Japonski Island to Baranof Island, removing the need for the shore boats, Dorothy, Teddy, Donna and the Arrowhead.
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Photo Credit: Tyler Eddy

08/18/2024

We are thrilled to announce that tickets are now on sale for Alaska Airlines' Autumn Classics, a series of exceptional performances throughout Alaska as part of the Sitka Music Festival, thoughtfully curated by our Artistic Director, Grammy Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey. This season’s lineup ...

08/18/2024

08/18/2024

08/13/2024

8-04-24 Sitka, AK Humpback mom and baby.

08/09/2024

It’s somebody’s birthday today!!! Happy Birthday, Smokey Bear! 80 forever years young! And don’t miss our Livestream of the Smokey Bear Awards hosted by PBS travel host, and 8 times Emmy Award nominated, Darley Newman from Washington, DC! Tune in right here on our page at 12:30! EST

08/09/2024

08/09/2024

08/09/2024

08/09/2024

Sitka has the absolute best trails and that is just not up for debate! Tag 2 friends you want to experience these views with 😍
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08/09/2024

Sitka weekend hikes >

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08/09/2024

One of our favorite activities is walking through Totem Park at Sitka National Historical Park - Surrounded by trees and ocean, this park is full of history, art, and culture.

📷: Instagram user

08/09/2024

One of the most common questions we get is, “What should I pack for my trip to Sitka?”

It’s a great question, since Sitka has a cool maritime climate with frequent rain and mild temperatures year-round. Summers are cool, with highs in the 60s (°F), and winters are mild, rarely dropping below freezing. Rain is typical, but there are also many clear days that showcase the stunning landscapes.

To make the most of your visit, packing the right essentials is key. Here’s your ultimate guide on what to pack per season when visiting Sitka: visitsitka.org/blog/what-to-pack-for-your-trip-to-sitka

08/09/2024

The only thing that can make a Sitka sunset that much sweeter 🐋

Photo by

08/09/2024

sunset at 10:00PM in Sitka Alaska.

Address

601A Lincoln Street
Sitka, AK
99835

Website

https://abnb.me/TJ5vmYZ0mxb, https://linktr.ee/EmmonsHouse

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Videos

Kanga Bay - Sitka’s pet supply destination is open! Check them out Saturday from 12-5 pm at 246 Katlian Street. 🐶 Go for the pet stuff and stay for the photo opp with Charlie! 🐾