Russian Bishop's House

The Russian Bishop’s House is one of the oldest surviving examples of Russian colonial architecture in North America. Most Sitka sightseeing tours include a visit to this restored house and museum, as well as attractions such as the Alaska Raptor Center, Totem Park, and St. Michael’s Cathedral.

Visitors are free to browse the museum’s first-floor Russian American exhibits on their own. The second-floor bishop’s quarters and the Chapel of the Annunciation can only be visited on a ranger-led tour.

• Admission to the Russian Bishop’s House is free, but a fee is required for the tour.

• The second floor of the Russian Bishop’s House is not wheelchair accessible.

• A video is available on the ground floor that details the second-floor features if you're not taking the tour.

Sitka is located on Baranof Island off the coast of Juneau, and is only accessible by ferry, cruise ship, or plane. The Russian Bishop’s House is in downtown Sitka, within walking distance of St. Michael’s Cathedral and the Sitka Centennial Visitors Center.

The best time to visit the Russian Bishop’s House is during the summer months (from May to September), when guided tours are available during museum opening hours. In the winter, tours are by appointment only and must be scheduled in advance.

The Russian Bishop’s House is operated by the National Park Service as part of the Sitka National Historical Park. The park was created to commemorate the 1804 Battle of Sitka—fought between the native Tlingit people and the Russians—and its main attraction is the collection of Tlingit and Haida totem poles standing along the park’s coastal Totem Trail. Ranger-led totem hikes are held daily during the summer months, and you can also see Tlingit artists at work in the park’s cultural center.