Above: The Ascension Church of Our Lord Chapel at Karluk on Kodiak Island. Photo by
Tommy’s Dog
Climate change is having a significant impact on cultural sites throughout Alaska. From Denali to the Bering Sea coast and down to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, the melting of snowfields, eroding coastlines, and more frequent severe floods are exposing artifacts faster than they can be preserved. Climate change also appears as a critical concern in Preservation Alaska’s annual list of at-risk historical locations.
Ranked as the second most threatened site in the group’s 2024 list is Pilgrim Hot Springs, located just north of Nome. This geothermal site, along with its unique tree oasis amidst the expansive tundra, reflects the histories of Indigenous peoples, the gold rush, aviation, and homesteading, as well as buildings from a Catholic-run orphanage dating back to the early 1900s. Today, it is a popular recreational area. However, beavers, which are rapidly moving north due to milder winters and increased vegetation, have flooded the region. Efforts are currently underway to manage this flooding and stabilize the buildings. For more information, visit pilgrimhotsprings.com.
Preservation Alaska also highlights climate change as a contributing factor to the increased coastal erosion that endangers the Ascension Church of Our Lord Chapel at Karluk on Kodiak Island. Constructed in 1888, this chapel is considered the oldest Russian Orthodox church in Alaska. In 2021, the building was relocated 80 feet inland to a temporary site. The gravesites in the surrounding area may also be at risk, depending on the rate of erosion. To learn more about the preservation efforts for Russian Orthodox sites, visit rossialaska.org.
To read the complete Preservation Alaska 2024 list of threatened sites, visit alaskapreservation.org.
