Haines Travel GuideBilled as the most beautiful port of call on the Inside Passage, Haines is also the smallest. More than thirteen ships visited Haines last year. Nestled in the scenic Chilkat Valley, Haines offers docking facilities for only one large ship at a time. This, however, translates in an intimate visit to the historic and quaint village. The first permanent army post in Alaska was Fort William H. Seward, named for William H. Seward, Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of the Interior and the engineer of the Alaska purchase from Russia in 1867. Established as a result of border tensions with Canada in 1902, the name of the fort was changed to Fort Chilkoot in 1922 as a result of confusion with the city of Seward in the US postal service. The original name was resumed in 1972 when the site was declared a historic site. Today, the buildings are privately owned and house gift ships, artist's galleries and homes. Haines is probably best known for its wildlife viewing opportunities. Wildlife is abundant in the Chilkat Valley and even in the downtown area. Both black and brown bears inhabit the valley and may be seen at almost any time, but along the Chilkoot River is the major gathering place for the bears as they fish for spawning salmon from mid-June to October with July and August the peak months for viewing. "Valley of the Eagles," Haines is known for its large winter gathering of bald eagles on the Chilkat River near town. The Bald Eagle Preserve was established in 1982 as an Alaska State Park to protect a critical habitat for eagles. Over 80 bald eagle nests exist in the Preserve as well as a year round population in the low hundreds. As other rivers freeze over and food becomes scarce, parts of the Chilkat River remain ice free due to an “alluvial fan”, a fan shaped pile of rocks at the confluence of three rivers. Water seeps into the deep spaces between the rocks. Then, as temperatures drop, this warmer water gradually mingles with the waters of the Chilkat, keeping parts of the river ice free. The chum salmon spawn in these waters and more than 3000 eagles converge on the area between mid-October and January. Haines hosts the Alaska Bald Eagle Festival each November. HAINES QUICK STATISTICS Population: 1,811 HAINES VISITOR INFORMATION Haines Chamber of Commerce Haines Convention & Visitors Bureau READ UP ON HAINES Chilkat Valley News HAINES SIGHTSEEING Alaska Indian Arts Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve American Bald Eagle Foundation Natural History Museum Fort William H Seward National Historic Landmark The movie "White Fang" by Disney Studios was filmed entirely in Haines. HAINES HOTELS AND LODGING Hotel Halsingland The Alaska Guardhouse Captain’s Choice Motel Fort Seward Bed & Breakfast The Summer Inn Bed & Breakfast HAINES FOOD AND DRINK Bamboo Room Mosey's Mountain Market Fireweed Restaurant The Lighthouse INTERNET ACCESS Haines Borough Library Five parks - state, national and regional - are within HAINES TRANSPORTATION Captain’s Choice Motel Car Rentals Eagle's Nest Car Rentals Alaska Marine Highway HAINES AIRPORT Haines Airport FISH & GAME Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game - Haines Haines is the location of one of the remotest lighthouses in North America - The Eldred Lighthouse. HOSPITALS Lynn Canal Medical Clinic
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