From Glacier Bay to Sitka by ship on the Inside Passage takes about 14 hours.
Sitka is an Alaskan city and borough near Juneau, the state capital. It's spread over Baranof Island, part of Chichagof Island and others. Founded in 1799 by Russian settler and fur trappers, Sitka was the capital of the Russian fur trading empire that once reached to Fort Ross in northern California. Sitka was known as Fort Archangel for 68 years. It was part of Russia until 1867.
St. Michael’s Orthodox Cathedral is topped with an onion shaped dome. The 1842 Russian Bishop’s House is nearby. Sitka National Historical Park is the site of Russia’s defeat of the indigenous Tlingit people and has a trail dotted with totem poles.
Upon arrival we were transported from the ship’s pier by an old school bus that shuttled us 7 miles to the heart of Sitka. In town were the typical shops to draw in tourists. Since cruise ships only come to port from May-September signs were posted 50%-75% on merchandise in shops. It becomes a shopping necca at the end of the cruise ship season each September. This year, 2017, Sitka happened to be celebrating its150th-founding year..
We made a quick jaunt on foot to see St, Michael’s Church. The Cathedral is the prime landmark of the town. The original church had burnt down by fire in 1967 and been rebuilt, Thus the exterior did not have the feeling of being an old town church. However, inside St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church, an unobtrusive, worn down, and benignly neglected church, we discovered a collection of priceless Russian religious art and icons dating back centuries.
The relics and artifacts were amazing and all were saved from the fire. Any place other than Sitka,Alaska these beautiful and historic items would be housed in a highly secure museum or cathedral. The building belies the beauty and historic value of the amazing religious art that it contains. It might have been easily dismissed had we come upon throngs of onlookers crowded inside the church. It contains amazing, priceless relics, icons, and art that cannot be seen anywhere else. 
We strolled to the marina and next made our way to a Haida clan house.
Not open we moved uphill to capture photos of a Russian old fort blockhouse defense building and a historical site for Sitka’s first native Indian bishop.
An old Russian cemetery on a forested hillside wrapped up our walkabout before heading to catch the shuttle bus back to the ship.
Other passengers had been off
on pricey excursions taking in bald eagles at the Alaskan Raptor Center, Fortress of the Bear, or Sitka Totem Park. Being 10 miles further away from the main part of town, our
feet nor time didn’t avail packing those attractions into our morning.
Glancing at the nearby Sitka homes in the cove
Boarding the gangway to the ship our feet were sore
from a good day's walkabout
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