Kijik Archeological District National Historic Landmark

An artist’s depiction of Alaska Native people hanging salmon on drying racks near a cabin.

Original Artwork by Kristin Link Illustrations and modified by NPS for use on this website.

Quick Facts

Location:

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Significance:

Kijik Archeological District National Historic Landmark preserves extraordinary opportunities to recognize and study the complexities of Athabascan culture

Designation:

National Historic Landmark, since October 12, 1994

OPEN TO PUBLIC:

No

Click HERE to view the full resolution colorized rendering featured above. Learn more on our NHLs of Alaska Coloring Book page.

Introduction

The Kijik Archeological District is an expansive collection of Dena'ina Athabascan villages that begin from around 2000 years ago, survives a brutal Russian occupation, and is eventually abandoned in the wake of the devastation of the early-20^th century influenza epidemic. Although the housing stock was left to ruin as residents consolidated their population in the Village of Nondalton a few miles south, they still return annually to harvest plants and animals, and to spend time with their families.

The houses, steam baths, underground caches, community houses, and Russian Orthodox church that make up the district are the largest concentration of Dena'ina sites in Southwest Alaska. The Kijik Archeological District National Historic Landmark preserves extraordinary opportunities to recognize and study the complexities of Athabascan culture, their interactions with Yupi’k, Alutiiq, and Europeans, and some clues to their predecessors, in southwestern Alaska.

More National Historic Landmarks in Alaska