Petersburg, Alaska

Alaska Sea Adventures home port of Petersburg is small commercial fishing community located in Southeast Alaska on the north end of Mitkof Island at the junction of Wrangell Narrows and Frederick Sound. Norwegian immigrants searching for a new location for a salmon cannery and log mill founded the town at the turn of the 19th century. The settlers were attracted to the site, which closely resembled their homeland because of its available glacier ice for fish packing, abundant timber and close proximity to rich fishing grounds.  Petersburg with its current population of 3,300 residents is home port to one of Alaska’s largest and most successful commercial fishing fleets.

Summers find the small community bustling as the town processes an annual seafood harvest that exceeds thirty million pounds. Three seafood processors and salmon canneries churn out product around the clock as work crews change shifts and boats unload their harvests and re-supply for the trip back to the fishing grounds.  Visitors to this little working town jewel are fascinated with its Scandinavian flair and beauty.

Local ancient rock art and fish traps which have been dated to over 4,000 years old indicate the location of the town was an area favored by early indigenous cultures for harvesting seafood for thousands of years.

This abundantly resource rich area not only has supported humans for many centuries, but over the millennium a large population of marine and terrestrial animals has found the ancient rain forested islands and surrounding bays and channels a place of fantastically rich foraging.

Alaska Airlines serves Petersburg with two daily flights as well as regular scheduled Alaska Marine Highway ferry stops. The town hosts two hotels and dozens of quaint bed & breakfast accommodations as well as all of the other amenities of a modern town.

With it’s location in the heart of the beautiful Inside Passage, Alaska Sea Adventures considers Petersburg a perfect jump off site for our superb Alaska.

Little Norway Festival

The Little Norway Festival, an annual event here in Petersburg, took place over the weekend of May 17th. Norwegian heritage runs deep in our Southeast Alaska fishing town and this festival celebrates that and so much more.

Held in honor of Norway’s Constitution Day, the event brings our community together and offers days of festivities.  Traditional Norwegian foods, the Annual Festival Parade on Main Street, Coast Guard Rescue Demos, the Herring Toss, and traditional performances bring our town’s Scandinavian heritage to life.

“Thank you for a wonderful experience. Have been to many places and seen many things but none as memorable as this one. The beauty of Alaska is astounding as are food, service, and courtesies were outstanding!”
Mahalo

Carl, H
Kamuela, HI