Russian Bishop's House
United States historic place in Sitka, Alaska. Built 1841. Added to the National Register in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark.
.jpg/960px-Exterior_of_the_Russian_Bishop's_House_(c08bc5d2-1dd8-b71c-0792-5fe2320e5800).jpg)
What it is
The Russian Bishop's House, once the Russian Mission Orphanage, is a historic house museum and National Historic Landmark at Lincoln and Monastery Streets in Sitka, Alaska. Built in 1841–43, this log structure is one of the oldest surviving buildings of Russian America, and was one of the centerpieces of the Russian Orthodox church's efforts to spread its influence among the natives of Alaska. It was the home and administrative center of Ivan Veniaminov, the first Bishop of Alaska, later canonized as Innocent of Alaska. The house is now a unit of Sitka National Historical Park, and is administered by the National Park Service.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | Lincoln and Monastery Sts., Sitka, AK |
| Borough or census area | Sitka |
| Listed | Oct 15, 1966 |
| Listed for | Engineering, Education, Exploration and settlement, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | Russian Mission Orphanage |
| Reference number | 66000025 |
| Built | 1841 · more from the 1840s |
| Type of place | episcopal palace, official residence, orphanage |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places contributing property |
| Contributing resources | 3 buildings |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | Lincoln and Monastery Sts., Sitka, AK |
| Coordinates | 57.0515° N, 135.3311° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Sitka | 23 listed places in Sitka → |
| Nearest national park unit | Sitka National Historical Park · 1 mile · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Samsing Cove Cabin 5 miles · Starrigavan Creek Cabin 6 miles · Starrigavan Campground And Day Use 6 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 6 records ↗
Map
Nearby in Sitka
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Guidebooks to historic places and travel in Alaska
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Russian Bishop's House listed on the National Register?
Oct 15, 1966. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Russian Bishop's House built?
1841.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Russian Bishop's House?
Yes. Russian Bishop's House is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is Russian Bishop's House?
Lincoln and Monastery Sts., Sitka, Sitka, Alaska. The nearest national park unit is Sitka National Historical Park, 1 mile away.
Source: Sitka National Historical Park
What does the Russian Bishop's House listing include?
The listing counts 3 contributing resources. Those are 3 buildings. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.
Source: National Park Service
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Russian Bishop's House?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Russian Bishop's House?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Russian Bishop's House?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Samsing Cove Cabin, 5 miles away. Starrigavan Creek Cabin is 6 miles away, and Starrigavan Campground And Day Use is 6 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Russian Bishop's House?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 66000025. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.