Location and History of Seldovia, Alaska

Seldovia is located on the lower Kenai Peninsula in the entrance of Seldovia Bay on the southern portion of Kachemak Bay across from Homer. This photo (left) is taken from the Homer side, looking across the bay. The photo on the right is an aerial shot of the town of Seldovia, showing the airport and marina. On the same latitude as Oslo, Norway, the community nestles between snow-capped mountains on the icy clear water of Seldovia Bay. On a clear day, looking out over Kachemak Bay and historical Cook Inlet, one can see four active volcanoes, Mts. Iliamna, Augustine, Redoubt and Spur.
There are several ways to get to Seldovia, but no road, as it is only accessible by sea or air. A fly-in trip to the cozy town will afford you with incredible views of the surrounding glaciers, while travelling by charter boat will get you up-close with many of the areas species of marine mammals and water fowl. You can fly from Anchorage, or drive down the Sterling Highway 225 miles to Homer. The drive is very scenic with lots of wildlife along the way. Then you can either fly over from Homer, or take a tour boat. You can bring your vehicle (or walk-on) the Alaska State Ferry Tustemena which has scheduled stops from Homer early Sunday morning, or Tuesday noon in the summer. This is not recommended, as you will not need your vehicle, and the schedules are not easy to meet.
The small bush planes will bring you here from Homer in 10 minutes, and charter boats will show you the sea life and bird life on Kachemak Bay before you dock in Seldovia, They'll take you around Gull Island, and you may see whales, otters, and seabirds galore! If you are flying your own plane, we have a 2,000 foot gravel runway, with no lighting. For the latest information and links:
Pilots Forecast and Flight Plan ....1-800-992-7433 - Kenai AFSS
Seldovia Airport .... (907) 234-7407 (Automated current weather conditions)
Marine Forecast ....(907) 235-5600
Road Conditions .... (907) 262-9228
Seward Highway ....(800) 478-7675
Smokey Bay Air .... (907) 235-1511
Great Northern Air Guides .... (907) 243-1968 or toll-free (800) 243-1968
ERA Aviation (Anchorage to Homer) .... (800) 866-8394
Rainbow Tours .... (907) 235-7272

Swan House South B & B can arrange your travel from Homer, however you choose to arrive. The recommended means of transportation is to drive from Anchorage (4 l/2 hours), fly over, then take a tour boat back. If the drive seems too long, we recommend flying non-stop on Great Northern Air Guides from Anchorage (Lake Hood), which is under an hour flight. We also recommend you stay at least two nights to be able to take in the area, as you may arrive late in the afternoon. You can leave your vehicle in Homer at the dock or the airport, get a cab back to either place. Parking is free at the public dock on the Homer spit, and at the airport.
History
The history portion of this page is adapted from Janet Klein's A History of Kachemak Bay. Of all the Kachemak communities, only Seldovia spans the centuries and crosses the cultures. Eskimo, Aleut, Indian, Russian, Scandinavian, German, and many other peoples congregated in Seldovia, providing a rich and varied heritage that still survives. Most were seafaring peoples and they oriented themselves to the water, geographically and economically. The origins of Seldovia are obscured by time. The Pacific Eskimo who lived on Yukon Island, the Aleuts who hunted sea otters in the area, and the Denaina Indians who were living there at the time of Russian contact were familiar with the natural resources of Seldovia Bay. The Russians, also, were aware of the abundant fur and fish resources of the region; in fact, a translated Russian book mentions the 1844 settlement of Seldovia, but gives no other details. The bay, itself, was labeled Seldevoy on an 1852 map of Cook Inlet compiled by Captain Mikhail Tebenkov, a Russian navigator and cartographer.
Over the years, the processing of herring, crab and salmon have been important. The first salmon cannery was built about 1910 and after World War I more than fifty fox farms were established in the bays and coves of the peninsula; many of them using Seldovia as the point of supply. During these years, Seldovia was the commerce center for Western Alaska.
At the turn of the century, Seldovia was a stop for prospectors en route to the gold fields in the Interior. A herring boom in the 1920's brought Scandinavians to town and they stayed on to fish salmon, halibut, crab and over the next four decades. In 1931 a wooden boardwalk was built along the waterfront to facilitate travel through town. Businesses in buildings set on pilings flourished along the intimate wooden walkway, and Seldovia became known throughout South Central Alaska as "the boardwalk town". Some days it would take a long time to get to the other end of town, becasue as you walked the boardwalk, everyone would stop, sit on the railing, visit or kibitz. The boardwalk gave a real sense of community.
The 1964 earthquake changed Seldovia forever. The land mass subsided four feet, allowing high tides to wash over the boardwalk and it buildings, houses and stores. Crews replaced the waterfront community with fill from surrounding hills so the town could be rebuilt on higher ground. The charm of old Seldovia is retained in a section of the old boardwalk which remains along the Seldovia Slough. Most of the old boardwalk can also be seen from Swan House South, just across the water. You will enjoy a stroll along this picturesque area. Be sure to bring your camera!
Today, though Seldovia is not the bustling hub of South Central Alaska it once was, it remains a beautiful city loaded with history. Walk along the boardwalks, through the town or along the bluffs and be treated to spectacular views and historical charm. You can visit the St. Nicholas Church, still standing after a hundred years, or sip coffee and watch the boats come and go. There are a variety of salmon, trout and halibut in the Seldovia Bay and in the Cook Inlet. Once in Seldovia, there is the opportunity to fish, dig for clams on minus tides and just hike around and become acquainted with the local wild berry crop. Be sure to take a walk along the Otterbahn trail and check out the Synergy Artworks/Information Center across from the harbor. If you are going to be around for the Fourth of July, check into the Seldovia Festival which includes many activities, a parade and a barbecue feast. There are also mountain bike rentals for those who want to explore the many miles of trails in the area.
Tide Table for Seldovia
Alaska Climate Research Center
Current Forecasted Alaska Weather