Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park
Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park
Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park
4.5
About
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this state park preserves and protects historical structures, and provides a variety of recreational opportunities such as camping, hiking, wildlife viewing and paddling.
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4.5
178 reviews
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MCC
South West England, UK840 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
The Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people have inhabited the Kodiak area for more than 7,000 years.The city of Kodiak sits on Kodiak Island (SUGPIAQ: SUN'AQ) and is Alaska's largest island and the second-largest island in the United States. Known as the Emerald Isle due to is verdant landscape. The harbours are the main gateway onto the island. We arrived on a damp and cloudy day , for which Kodiak is famous.
Following a visit by a Russian explorer In the mid-1700s ushered in the island’s Russian period. Kodiak was the first capital of Russian-controlled Alaska, and was centre of fur trade. A former storehouse of fur pelts now houses the Kodiak History Museum and is the oldest standing building in Alaska.
Once a struggling fishing port, World War II turned the island of Kodiak into a major staging area for North Pacific operations. Fort Abercrombie was built as a defence post to protect the naval base that was constructed in 1939. Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park is known for learning more about the island’s World War II history. The fort was built during the war and now features a campground and the Kodiak Military History Museum, located inside the Ready Ammo bunker. The historic ruins of the World War II coastal defence installation along with the steep cliffs, deep spruce forests, wildflower-laden meadows, and a lake make this park a fascinating place to walk around. To strengthen the fortifications at Abercrombie the numbers of personnel was increased from 30 to 300. The fortifications eventually consisted of three large bunkers for ammunition, few smaller concrete buildings for generators, communications and signalling, 25 billets, 68-foot observation tower, two 8” guns and a radio transmitting station. Everything was abandoned in 1947 after two years in mothballed.
Today, the old naval base is the site of the largest Coast Guard base in the country.
Kodiak’s famed cloudy weather spared it from a Japanese attack during World War II but the city wasn’t so lucky during the Good Friday Earthquake of 1964, which levelled its city area and wiped out its fishing fleet. Today, Kodiak is among the top three fishing ports in the country.
The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge encompasses two-thirds of Kodiak Island that ranges from rugged mountains and alpine meadows to wetlands, spruce forest, and grassland. The refuge is home to 3,500 bears. The refuge has no roads, so bear viewing is done with an air charter or visit one of remote wilderness lodges on the island, such as Alaska Native-owned Kodiak Brown Bear Centre & Lodge. The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Centre in Kodiak has exhibits on the area’s wildlife and ecosystems.
Following a visit by a Russian explorer In the mid-1700s ushered in the island’s Russian period. Kodiak was the first capital of Russian-controlled Alaska, and was centre of fur trade. A former storehouse of fur pelts now houses the Kodiak History Museum and is the oldest standing building in Alaska.
Once a struggling fishing port, World War II turned the island of Kodiak into a major staging area for North Pacific operations. Fort Abercrombie was built as a defence post to protect the naval base that was constructed in 1939. Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park is known for learning more about the island’s World War II history. The fort was built during the war and now features a campground and the Kodiak Military History Museum, located inside the Ready Ammo bunker. The historic ruins of the World War II coastal defence installation along with the steep cliffs, deep spruce forests, wildflower-laden meadows, and a lake make this park a fascinating place to walk around. To strengthen the fortifications at Abercrombie the numbers of personnel was increased from 30 to 300. The fortifications eventually consisted of three large bunkers for ammunition, few smaller concrete buildings for generators, communications and signalling, 25 billets, 68-foot observation tower, two 8” guns and a radio transmitting station. Everything was abandoned in 1947 after two years in mothballed.
Today, the old naval base is the site of the largest Coast Guard base in the country.
Kodiak’s famed cloudy weather spared it from a Japanese attack during World War II but the city wasn’t so lucky during the Good Friday Earthquake of 1964, which levelled its city area and wiped out its fishing fleet. Today, Kodiak is among the top three fishing ports in the country.
The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge encompasses two-thirds of Kodiak Island that ranges from rugged mountains and alpine meadows to wetlands, spruce forest, and grassland. The refuge is home to 3,500 bears. The refuge has no roads, so bear viewing is done with an air charter or visit one of remote wilderness lodges on the island, such as Alaska Native-owned Kodiak Brown Bear Centre & Lodge. The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Centre in Kodiak has exhibits on the area’s wildlife and ecosystems.
Written 2 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fizzy1991
Nashville, TN5,949 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Beautiful stunning scenery with excellent walking trails. This would be a must see in Kodiak, along with the Military History Museum that is inside a bunker, in this park. Some trails can get slippery in the rain and the weather can change very fast so dress in layers and always some kind of rain gear.
Written 15 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deborah C
Guntersville, AL29 contributions
Jul 2022
This was an unexpected perk of our trip to Kodiak. Beautiful scenery and lots of history packed into an afternoon's visit to Fort Abercrombie. We enjoyed the walk through the woods, and seeing the historical points of interest.
Written 16 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
triliumsummer
Mountain City, TN178 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
Salmon berries, beautiful flowers, WW2 history plus much more. My friend and I walked many trails, seen at least 2 humpback whales and 1 bald eagle. Beautiful park, the best $5.00 spent. This cost is for all day. Spend a few hours or a day in this park. U will have a wonderful time!
Written 22 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jbo72046
Greater Sydney, Australia56 contributions
Sept 2019
we took a taxi to the entry of the park and then walked the very easy and pleasant roadway to the ww2 historic museum and area. You can take a few different trails through the bushland instead of walking the roadway and we did this on the way back to the entry point where our taxi returned a few hours later to collect us. The ww2 museum is not just a quick look ...you need to allow at least an hour or more to take in the various displays and information provided. If you aren't interested in ww2 memorabilia , then you can skip the museum (which would really be a shame) and just walk the lovely trails ...easy walking, easy grades and well maintained paths. we didn't see any bears although I was a bit nervous...but the lookouts from the various high points across the water are just fabulous and I soon forgot to worry about bears. Don't take an organised bus tour...they rush you in and out and you will miss out on so much. Take a taxi/cab and allow a couple of hours at least to appreciate the wonderful place. and if you DO go to the museum, there is a man there ( I think he is the manager or chief volunteer, together with his wife) who has knowledge that will hold you spellbound. Not just for that area but for Alaska's pivotal role in ww2. Very interesting and such a clear explanation. Hope you go and hope you allow plenty of time.
Written 27 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FairSweetSuzi
Atlanta, GA8 contributions
Sept 2020
The hike around the lake comes to the beach! To environments in one hike. Bring binoculars to spot things way out. Saw otters and birds.
Written 5 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
laculturevulture
Lake Charles, La286 contributions
Aug 2019
We took a taxi from the visitor center, about a 15 min ride($20) Beautiful park with easy walking trails and lots of old buildings and bunkers left over from WWII. Great views from the cliffs. Unfortunately no whales out for us to see that day. The small volunteer run museum is a surprising "gem". Full of all kinds of uniforms, weapons, radios, even a jeep. We spent over an hour talking with the volunteers, who knew all kinds of stories and history. The $5 donation helps keep the lights on
Written 10 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hans T
4 contributions
Jun 2012
Beautiful natural setting in Sitka Spruce forest with many hiking trails and lakes. Coastal trails and view points high over the ocean. Beaches and dramatic coastal cliffs, Rocky shores with many tide pools. Bunker houses a WW II military museum, remainders of war fortifications throughout the park. Camp ground in natural forest setting, Picnic shelter and beach-side picnic area. Further info at www.kodiak.org or www.kodiakstateparks.dnr.state.ak.us
Written 10 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shanaka99
Rescue, CA50 contributions
Jun 2012 • Couples
When you go to Kodiak, plan a trip out to the museum. The hours are short but the hands on museum is so worth the trip. They have working morris code machines, tele-type machines that print out coded messeges, a WWII era phone system and an incredible display of what it was like to serve on Kodiak Island during the war. We saw whales jumping from Morris Point and took a small walk around to look at the old gun mounts and relics. The campgound looked amazing, tucked onto a heavily wooded and mossy forrest area. It was only 4.5 miles from town so it was easy to find and get to. We also did the Termination Point hike which is out past the park where the road ends at White Sands Beach- Also well worth the time!
Written 9 June 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tuckmics
Bremerton, WA91 contributions
Very beautiful place. Great hiking trails and areas of historic interest.
Written 17 April 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can you do this on your own or is it necessary to go thru the ship excursion? Is it close to where the ship docks ?
thanks !
Written 19 July 2019
Oh yes, you can do on your own! No not close to ship docks. I would take a taxi or rent a car. Safe travels!
Written 23 July 2019
No. It depends on how far you enjoy walking. The cruise dock is about 1.5 miles south of the town of Kodiak, and Fort Abercrombie is about 4 miles northwest of the center of Kodiak. It would be a long walk!
Written 20 September 2017
Is the park wheel chair accessible, are there accessible bathrooms for persons confined to wheel chair?
Written 4 April 2017
Is it safe to hike in the State Park without an armed guide? Aren't there huge Kodiak bears around?
Written 15 March 2017
We were there in September and saw no bears in the park. There are many on Kodiak Island but they generally stay away from humans unless you get between a momma and her cubs!
We hiked almost 8 miles in and around the park.
Hope you can enjoy it.
Written 23 March 2017
How much is the admission, which I didn't read. How long should one plan to stay here and do some hiking and get back on the ship by 1:30 on June 10, 2015.
Written 22 January 2015
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