Kenai Historic Park or Site
Discover Kenai’s historic parks and sites. Step into the past at the Kenai Russian Orthodox Church, explore the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center, immerse yourself in nature at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, and discover the region’s history at the Kenai Historical Society and Museum.
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Historic Park or Site
Quick: what’s the longest combined rail and highway tunnel in North America? It’s the Anderson Memorial Tunnel, and you’ll drive through it on the scenic and historic drive to Whittier. The Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area is a place whose valleys and mountains, communities and people tell the larger story of a wild place and a rugged frontier. This audio guide gives you the inside scoop on its fascinating history. You’ll… ...more
Built between 1894 – 96, the Holy Assumption Orthodox Church is the most enduring example of Russian culture in south central Alaska. For the Kenaitze Indians, who once comprised a significant portion of the population, this church constituted a major link to western culture. A simple, wood-frame structure with clapboard siding, Holy Assumption Church features a square two-story bell tower and a distinctive crown-shaped cupola, both with the… ...more
In 1906 the chapel was built to honor Father Igumen Nicolai and Makary Ivanov. Fr. Nicolai, Kenai’s first priest, brought small pox vaccine, which saved the lives of hundreds of Dena’ina. The chapel is on the site of the original 1849 church, located in the northwest corner of the Russian fur trading post of Fort St. Nicholas.