History
This introduction to the history of Prince William Sound is courtesy of PWSK members, Jim and Nancy Lethcoe, authors of History of Prince William Sound, published by Prince William Sound Books, Valdez, Alaska.
At first glance, Prince William Sound presents an aspect of pristine and untrammeled wilderness, and this is one of its major delights. Anchored in a secluded cove or ascending a trackless ridge, it is easy to imagine oneself as the first explorer. Yet, a closer examination of the shoreline quickly reveals subtle signs of former habitation. Decayed sawed off stumps line the shores-witness to former hand-logging operations. The logs were used for cabins, firewood, fish traps, cannery pilings, mining timbers, railroad ties, fox farm pens, and even ship building. If one rummages among the moss, alder and devils club, virtually every bay reveals the rotted foundations of some old cabin or fox pen. Abandoned, frail human structures do not last long in this damp climate and under such heavy winger snow-loads. And perhaps this is as it should be.
In some areas the trimlines of second growth forest reach up adjacent hillsides. And it is not uncommon while hiking the remote ridges to stumble onto some old mine shaft surrounded by piles of rusting debris. In place remains of old sawmills, canneries, salteries, fox farms and even whole mining towns and a fur trading post can be discerned-some still standing, others shambles of rickety timbers, and still others mere traces of former foundations in the invading moss.
It is hard to imagine all of this human presence in an area whose surface appearance seems to convey remoteness itself. And yet, they came here, thousands upon thousands of them-Eskimos back in the misty reaches of prehistory seeking better hunting grounds; English and Spanish square ri
ggers looking for a Northwest passage; Russian adventurers hunting for sea otter pelts; fox farmers and gold prospectors, and miners and Filipino cannery workers, and geologists and glaciologists.
And they left their names on the landscape itself. On modern charts of Prince William Sound ancient Eskimo place names mingle with the names of 18th century Spanish and English noblemen and explorers. Names left by Russian fur traders appear beside those of modern American prospectors, fur farmers, and scientists. And yet, the majority of the points, coves and smaller islands still remain unnamed. Prince William Sound in the modern world is a unique place-it has survived history.
