QSL Travels:
Alaskan Amateur Radio Adventure

Join Us for an Adventure
August, 2005

At the head of Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula, Seward is one of Alaska’s oldest and most scenic communities. Known as the "Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park" Seward is a picturesque town located 126 miles south of Anchorage. Visitors can easily reach us via the Seward Highway Scenic Byway, the Alaska Railroad, bus, air, or cruise ship.

Seward is on the southeast coast of the Kenai Peninsula, 125 highway miles south of Anchorage. It lies at the foot of Mount Marathon, and is the gateway to the Kenai Fjords National Park. It lies at approximately 60° 07' N Latitude, 149° 26' W Longitude (Sec. 10, T001S, R001W, Seward Meridian). The community is located in the Seward Recording District. The area encompasses 15 sq. miles of land and 7 sq. miles of water.

Resurrection Bay was named in 1792 by Russian fur trader and explorer Alexander Baranof. While sailing from Kodiak to Yakutat,he found unexpected shelter in this bay for a storm. He named the Bay Resurrection because it was the Russian Sunday of the Resurrection.

Seward was named for U.S. Secretary of State William Seward, 1861-69, who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia during the Lincoln administration.

In the 1890s, Captian Frank Lowell arrived with his family. In 1903, John and Frank Ballaine and a group of settlers arrived to begin construction of a railroad. Seward became an incorporated City in 1912. The Alaska Railroad was constructed between 1915 and 1923, and Seward developed as the ocean terminus and supply center.

By 1960, Seward was the largest community on the Peninsula. Tsunamis generated after the 1964 earthquake destroyed the railroad terminal and killed several residents. As an ice-free harbor, Seward has become an important supply center for Interior Alaska.

Seward is also home to the Alaska SeaLife Center, the newest and largest marine research center in Alaska. There area over 100 charter boat operators and a dozen day tour operators in the harbor to help you enjoy your visit to the fullest extent possible.

Established in 1964, Seward Harbor has grown and matured and continues to grow today. We completely renewed the northern part of the harbor float system during the winter of 2000-2001. The aging wood float system was replaced with state of the industry concrete floats and upgraded utilities. New ramps and fish cleaning stations were a part of this renovation and have dramatically improved the facilities and access for our customers and visitors.