Wrangell: Timber, Petroglyphs, and Tidewater Living
Wrangell sits on the northern tip of Wrangell Island in southeastern Alaska, where the Stikine River meets the ocean. The borough's population of about 2,382 makes it one of the smaller communities in the Alaska Panhandle. Long before European contact, the Tlingit people established a presence here, and the Stikine River corridor served as a trading route linking coastal and interior peoples.
Petroglyph Beach, a short walk from the harbor, contains dozens of ancient rock carvings whose exact origins remain debated. Some may date back several thousand years. The beach is one of the more accessible collections of petroglyphs in the Pacific Northwest, and visitors can make rubbings of replica carvings placed near the originals.
Wrangell's economy was historically anchored by a pulp mill and sawmill that provided steady employment for decades. When the mill closed in the 1990s, the town lost its primary employer, and the transition to a fishing- and tourism-based economy has been gradual. The Alaska Marine Highway connects Wrangell to other Southeast Alaska communities, and small cruise ships have started including the town as a port of call.
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Wrangell sits on the northern tip of Wrangell Island in southeastern Alaska, where the Stikine River meets the ocean. The borough's population of about 2,382 makes it one of the smaller communities in the Alaska Panhandle. Long before European contact, the Tlingit people established a presence here, and the Stikine River corridor served as a trading route linking coastal and interior peoples.
Petroglyph Beach, a short walk from the harbor, contains dozens of ancient rock carvings whose exact origins remain debated. Some may date back several thousand years. The beach is one of the more accessible collections of petroglyphs in the Pacific Northwest, and visitors can make rubbings of replica carvings placed near the originals.
Wrangell's economy was historically anchored by a pulp mill and sawmill that provided steady employment for decades. When the mill closed in the 1990s, the town lost its primary employer, and the transition to a fishing- and tourism-based economy has been gradual. The Alaska Marine Highway connects Wrangell to other Southeast Alaska communities, and small cruise ships have started including the town as a port of call.
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