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Pelican
Named for a
fishing boat called "The Pelican" owned by Charles Raatikained, a
founder of the town. The corporate name of the town in "Pelican,"
although it is frequently called "Pelican city." In 1943 there was a
cannery, a small sawmill, a school, and a hotel here. A post office was
established in 1939 (Ricks, 1965, p. 50). Located on the NE shore of
Lisianski Inlet in NW part of Chichgof Island
Touristy
Description: Pelican is known for its boardwalk, which connects most of
the residences and businesses in this remote fishing village on the
northwest coast of Chichagof Island, 80 miles north of Sitka and 70
miles west of Juneau. Pelican was established on Lisianski Inlet in 1938
by a fish packer who bought and transported fish to Sitka. Fishing is
still Pelican's main industry as it boasts the closest harbor to the
rich Fairweather salmon grounds. Pelican’s population is listed as 113
but during the summer the population grows with the arrival of
commercial fishers and the return of seasonal workers. One of the most
well known local events is the Pelican Boardwalk Boogie, a music
festival held each May that draws many revelers from across the region,
including exhausted legislative staffers from nearby Juneau, who are
looking to cut loose after the end of the intense legislative session.
During
the summer months you can catch the twice-a-month Alaska Marine Highway
ferry to Pelican and turn the sailing into an interesting daytrip from
Juneau. The cruise through Icy Strait is scenic, with a very good
possibility of seeing humpback whales, and two hours in port offer
plenty of time to walk the length of town. Salmon Way consists of a
mile-long boardwalk built on pilings over tidelands and is a
photographer's delight. There are only two miles of rough gravel roads
beyond that.
Beyond
the boardwalk, Pelican is surrounded by lush forests and watery fjords,
making it a beautiful gateway to such uniquely Alaskan experiences as
charter salmon and halibut fishing, sea kayaking or an overnight outing
to nearby natural hot springs located on the outside coast of the
West-Chichagof Yakobi Island Wilderness Area. There are several fishing
lodges located in Pelican and in the settlements of Phonograph Cove and
Sunnyside.
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