The historic downtown district of Haines, Alaska offers a wealth of attractions to discover when setting forth on your walking tour. An excellent starting point is the Haines Welcome Center, located on 2nd Avenue, where complementary maps of area attractions can be obtained at no charge. Noteworthy downtown attractions include museums and business landmarks such as the Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center, the Hammer Museum, and Tsirku Canning Company, all of which are open to the public. A ten minute walk over the hill takes you into the Haines Harbor where visitors can dine on fresh fish and shop for trinkets.
Located just a 10-minute walk from downtown Haines is Fort William H. Seward, a national historic site built by the US Army in 1902. Fort William H. Seward offers self-guided walking tours of the former hospital, which has been converted into an Alaska Indian Arts center and features attractions that include authentic totem poles, jewelry and masks created by Alaskan natives. The former bachelor's officers quarters and commander's house have been converted to the Halsingland Hotel, which is open to the public.
Juneau, Alaska's capital city, features an abundance of attractions to explore while on your self-guided walking tour. The Davis Log Cabin Visitor Center makes an excellent starting point, offering free maps and advice on local points of interest. Downtown attractions include the State Capitol Building, which houses the governor's office and the Alaska state legislative offices and The House of Wickersham, the historic former residence of Judge James Wickersham, built in 1898 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Last Chance Basin Historic District is also located downtown and features original mine shacks and exhibits from Alaska's gold rush days.
Ketchikan is known as Alaska's First City and is often the first stop through the Inside Passage. Located on Front Street, the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau is a smart starting point and features walking maps free of charge. Downtown is home to the Tongass Historical Museum, which features exhibits and relics related to the history and culture of Alaskan Native-Americans. Just minutes from the Ketchikan Visitors Center, the Tongass National Forest offers miles of self-guided trails where visitors can take in views of waterfalls and glaciers. Alaskan wildlife in its natural habitat is also on display at Musty Fjords Natural Monument, a glacier carved wilderness area inhabited by whales, bald eagles and sea lions.
