SEWARD,  AK
July 25, 2011

Seward is a quaint village of about 3,200 and one of Alaska's oldest communities.  The city is surrounded by lush, tall mountains and ice fields.  Exit Glacier is Alaska's most accessible glacier.  It was founded in 1903 and named for William Seward who convinced the United States to purchase Alaska from the Russians in 1867.  During the Gold Rush, Seward was the start of the Iditarod Trail, now designated a National Historic Trail.

Resurrection Bay has a year-round ice free harbor and is important as a fishing and cargo port.  It was a strategic military post during WWII.   The fort was built inside a mountain here in 1941 to hold off a Japanese attack but closed in 1943 before it could be used.  The US government spent more on this facility than any other base in Alaska.       

Close by is the Kenai River, a world famous fishing river, that has all five salmon species. Silver salmon are running now and their return creates quite a stir. A local head of household can take up to 25 silvers and each member of the family can get 10. 

Tourism, shopping and fishing support the local economy.  Lots of Alaskan adventures here but we took advantage of a free day for fishing and shopping. No fish but lots of bags.

Tomorrow we move on the Palmer, backtracking to Anchorage and going a bit north.