Location
Sitka is located on the outer coast of Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska, facing the Pacific Ocean. It is along the great circle air route to Japan, Korea, China, and 
Southeast Asia, and also a port of call along the Inside Passage - the coastal route for oceangoing vessels plying between the US mainland and the coastal islands. The Inside Passage is heavily traveled by cruise ships, freighters, fishing craft and ships of the Alaska Marine Highway and BC Ferries systems. No roads connect Sitka to the rest of the State but it is easily accessible by air and water.
Sitka was the capital of Russian America from 1799 until 1867 when Alaska was transferred from Russia to the United States. Long before the settling of San Francisco, Sitka became the leading economic center of the northern hemisphere with the first boatyard, lighthouse, sawmill, iron, brass and bronze foundries, and flour mill. The area has scenic beauty possessed by few world communities.
| Latitude | 57° 10' N |
| Longitude | 135° 15' W |
| Distance in air miles from nearby metropolitan cities: | |
| Juneau, Alaska | 95 (30 mins. flight time) |
| Seattle, Washington | 862 (2.8 hrs. flight time) |
| Anchorage, Alaska | 592 (2.8 hrs. flight time) |
