Petersburg, midway between Ketchikan and Juneau, is at the northern end of the famed 21-mile-long Wrangell Narrows, a narrow but beautiful channel. Alaska Marine Highway and Alaska Airlines connect Petersburg with Seattle and other Alaskan communities.
This community, unlike many Alaskan towns, was never a tent-and-log-cabin boom town. "Peter's Burg" was carefully plotted by its Scandinavian
founder Peter Buschmann, who started a salmon cannery and sawmill here in 1897.
The town of Petersburg was incorporated in 1910. Fishing and tourism are the mainstays of Petersburg’s approximate 3,100 residents. One of Alaska’s largest fishing fleets supplies salmon, halibut, shrimp and crab to the several fish processing and cold storage plants scattered along the waterfront.
Petersburg is a photographers dream as it is one of the prettiest towns on the shores of the Pacific.
Main Street parallels the waterfront with its canneries; wharves and fuel docks perched on pilings driven deep into the ocean floor. At the south end of Main Street, Sing Lee Alley winds between several old buildings including the Sons of Norway Hall. Nearby, a plank road skirts the warehouses and homes along the bank of Hammer Slough.
Information/Emergency
Petersburg Visitor Information Cente at 1st and Fram Street, 907-772-4636; open Mon. - Sat. 9 to 5, Sunday noon to 4pm. 907-772-4291
Clausen Memorial Museum, 203 Fram Street. Established in 1968, the Clausen Museum is dedicated to preserving the history and telling the story of those who have lived and worked in Petersburg and the surrounding area.
U.S. Forest Service, Petersburg Ranger District 907-772-3871, 12 North Nordic Drive in downtown Petersburg.
Emergency only 911: State Troopers 772-3100; Petersburg Medical Center 772-4291.
Waterfront B&B Come relax and enjoy all our amenities and a delicious home cooked breakfast. We have five rooms, private baths, shared kitchen, private entrance, hot tub, non-smoking. Next to the ferry terminal. Relax in our sitting room or our large deck overlooking Wrangell Narrows. 907-772-9300 or 866-772-9301
Tides
Inn, First and Dolphin, 907-772-4288 or toll free 1-800-665-8433. 48 rooms with baths, TV, conference room,
continental breakfast.
Camping The Trees RV Park & General Store. Nestled in the rainforest of SE Alaska, located 1/4 mile from world-class King Salmon, Steelhead and Coho fishing. We offer full service sites, laundry facilities, clean restrooms, hot showers and a well-stocked general store. (907) 772-2502
Alaska Marine Highway vessels connect Petersburg with the rest of Southeast Alaska, Prince Rupert, BC, and Bellingham, WA. The terminal is at mile .08 on the Mitkof Highway. Call for reservations 800-642-0066.
Rainforest Islands Ferry. A fast and convenient way to explore Southeast Alaska. This ferry travels between Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg and Coffman Cove.
Alaska Airlines provides daily jet service, originating in Seattle, Washington, and Anchorage, Alaska, with several stops in-between. 800-252-7522
Tides Inn Local tours and sightseeing. 907-772-4288
Charter air or boat information can be obtained from Petersburg Visitor Information Center.
907 772 4636
Things
To Do Frederick Sound just north of Petersburg
is summer home to one of the most unique population of humpback
whales in the world and boasts some of the best whale watching
in North America. There are several charter operators that specialize
in trips to Frederick Sound. Check with the Chamber of Commerce
for information.
Norwegian Festival held each year
on the third weekend of May, celebrates Norway's Independence Day.
This is a colorful event with old-country costumes, dances, singing
and eating traditional foods.
Sons of Norway Hall is on the National
Register of Historic Places. It is on pilings overlooking
Hammer Slough and is a favorite with photographers. It was
built in 1912.
Spectacular
LeConte Glacier, set in a deep canyon at the head of LeConte
Bay east of Petersburg, is the most southerly tidewater glacier
on the coast. For charter information contact the Chamber of Commerce.
907-772-3646.
Tongass Kayak Adventures Offers 4 hour to 8 day sea kayaking adventures.
907-772-4600
Wrangell Narrows is found approximately 1.5 hours north of Wrangell. It is a 23 mile long channel that was dredged in the 1940's to accommodate the larger vessels that had begun to travel to Alaska.
