Sitka Naval Operating Base and U.S. Army Coastal Defenses, Military historic district in Sitka, United States
Sitka Naval Operating Base and U.S. Army Coastal Defenses spread across several islands connected by a long causeway, with gun positions, seaplane operations, and ammunition storage bunkers. The scattered buildings and concrete structures show how the defenses covered the entire archipelago.
These installations were built rapidly in the 1940s to defend against threats in the Pacific during World War II. They became crucial defenses when Japanese forces moved toward Alaska and the North Pacific.
Soldiers and residents of Sitka built relationships that shaped the community's identity for generations. The base became woven into local life and how people experienced the islands.
The site is open year-round and visitors can explore the scattered structures across the islands, though some locations require walking across the causeway. Wear sturdy shoes and be ready for wet, uneven ground.
The base had a specialized landing system for naval aircraft that matched systems found on aircraft carriers, making it one of the few land-based locations worldwide with this capability. This allowed flight operations normally only possible at sea.
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