Kayak Island
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| Bering Expedition Landing Site | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Location: | Katalla, Alaska |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1741 |
| Architect: | Unknown |
| Architectural style(s): | No Style Listed |
| Designated as NHL: | June 02, 1978[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | July 20, 1977[2] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 77001542 |
| Governing body: | FOREST SERVICE |
Kayak Island ( ) is located in the Gulf of Alaska, 100 km (62 mi) SE of Cordova, Alaska Malaspina Coastal Plain. It has a land area of 73.695 km² (28.454 sq mi) and no population.
It was named "Kayak" in 1826 by Lt. Sarichef of the Russian Navy, because of the fancied resemblance of its outline to the Eskimo skin canoe. This island, it is believed, was the one Vitus Bering saw and named "Saint Elias" in 1741.
According to the U.S. National Park Service, "Here naturalist Georg W. Steller, surgeon aboard Vitus Bering's ST. PETER, made the first attempts at contact between Europeans and Alaskan natives. His investigations are among the first contributions to the West's knowledge of the natural and human history of the region."[1]
Captain James Cook visited the island on May 12, 1778, and buried a bottle with a paper and two small pieces of silver given to him by Dr. Kaye, the chaplain of King George III, for this purpose. Because of this, Capt. Cook gave the name "Kaye's Island" to this feature. It was called "Nuestra Senora del Carmen" or "Isla del Carmen," meaning "Our Lady Carmen" or "Island of (Our Lady) Carmen" by Don I. Arteaga about July 16, 1779, for the saint to whom this day was dedicated.
Cape Saint Elias is located on the southwest end of the island. Mount Saint Elias, the second highest mountain in the United States and Canada, was likely named after this cape.
The Bering Expedition Landing Site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1978.[1][3]
The Cape St. Elias Light is an important aid-to-navigation located on the island.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Bering Expedition Landing Site. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-11-19.
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
- ^ William S. Hanable (January 15, 1976), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Bering Expedition Landing Site (AHRS SITE NO. XMI 005)PDF (191 KiB), National Park Service and Accompanying photos, exterior and interior, from 19.PDF (32 KB)
- Kayak Island: Block 1191, Census Tract 2, Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska United States Census Bureau
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