Situated between the Pacific Ocean to the South and the Bering Sea to the North, the Aleutian Island community of Unalaska/Dutch Harbor is rich in history, and for the last twenty years has been the number one commercial fishing port in the country.
Unalaska’s earliest known inhabitants, the Unangan (also know as Aleut) people have continuously occupied these islands for approximately 9,000 years. Artifacts from archaeological digs as well as other cultural items and information can be viewed at the Museum of the Aleutians and at the Ounalashka Corporation office.
Unalaska was established as the first headquarters for the Russian-American Fur Company and cornerstone for the lucrative sea otter fur trade in the early 1820’s. Unalaska’s most prominent landmark, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of Christ, which was completed in 1896 is the oldest cruciform style cathedral in North America, and is the only remaining indication of the Russian era which began in the mid-1700’s. Overlooking the bay, the church with its onion domes is a photographer’s delight. It is the repository for more than 600 Russian Orthodox icons, books and relics, and is the centerpiece of the community for the descendants of the Unangan/Aleuts that still call Unalaska home.
The impact of WWII in the Aleutians remains one of the most visible features that dot this remote landscape today. Quonset huts, barracks, concrete bunkers and former gun emplacements blend with Unalaska/Dutch Harbor’s modern physical features, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to explore this part of United States history. Less visible but not less important, was the impact on the people of the region. Their plight of being relocated from the islands after the June 1942 bombing by the Japanese and the difficulties they faced upon their return can be discovered by visiting the Aleutian WWII Visitor Center, the Ounalashka Corporation office, and the Museum of the Aleutians.
Unalaska and its International Port of Dutch Harbor sit in the heart of the North Pacific and Bering Sea fisheries. Its status as the only natural deep water port in the Aleutians has made it an important port since the 18th century when the Russian fur traders first sailed here. In the 1920’s and 1930’s, numerous Herring and Cod salteries and several Salmon canneries were active on Unalaska Island. After WWII, the King Crab fishery in the Bering Sea began to develop slowly and the first crab processing plants opened in Unalaska in the 1960’s. The development of the Bering Sea Red King Crab fishery in the 1970’s and 1980’s changed the character of Unalaska from a quiet village of 400 people to a boom town of approximately 4,000. In the mid-1980’s the current Pollock/Pacific Cod fisheries began to build large processing plants in Unalaska and are now the nation’s largest and most valuable fishery. Dutch Harbor is the main delivery port for the crab fleet featured on the Discovery Channel’s hit reality show “The Deadliest Catch.”
Besides the history, cultural opportunities and beautiful scenery, visitors come to Unalaska/Dutch Harbor to play outdoors. These treeless/bear less islands provide many outdoor activities including, but certainly not limited to: hiking, skiing, sportfishing, kayaking, bird/wildlife watching, and wildflowers (including several wild orchids).