About Juneau

Juneau is located in the Panhandle of Southeast Alaska, 900 air miles north of Seattle and 600 air miles southeast of Anchorage. Juneau is one of the most beautiful state capitals in the nation. Juneau was named after gold prospector Joe Juneau, though the place was for a time called Rockwell and then Harrisburg (after Juneau's co-prospector, Richard Harris–several books credit the Tlingit Chief Kowee with showing these prospectors where the gold was).

Juneau is larger in area than the state of Delaware and was, for many years, the country's largest city by area. Juneau Alaska is an adventure lover’s paradise. Juneau also boasts hundreds of miles of groomed hiking trails as well as a number of protected waterways that offer excellent sea kayaking. Juneau Alaska fishing is famous for its king salmon, followed closely by halibut and coho salmon. Juneau fishing Salmon are the most popular fish in the waters around Juneau.

Juneau is the third most populated city in Alaska, and it is the capital of this great state. Juneau combines ancient Alaskan traditions with Western commercialism and bustling city life. Juneau welcomes thousands of visitors each year, many as passengers on one of the hundreds of cruise ships that drop anchor in the inside passage. Juneau is also a jumping off point for wildlife viewing, exploring Tracy Arm Fjord, Mendenhall Glacier, the Juneau Icefield, and the Glacier Gardens. Juneau Icefield, a spectacular expanse of mountains and glaciation, is the source of all the glaciers in the area, including Mendenhall, Taku, Eagle, Herbert and 38 other glaciers within a 1,500-square-mile radius.

Juneau is accessible by air from Anchorage or Seattle with service provided by Alaska Airlines. Juneau, being the capital of Alaska also offers unique historical landmarks to visiting tourists. Juneau started life originally as a small mining camp. In 1881, the miners met and renamed the town Juneau, after Joe Juneau. In 1906, after the diminution of the whaling and fur trade, Sitka, the original capital of Alaska, declined in importance and the seat of government was moved to Juneau. The area hosts the annual Alaska Folk Festival and Juneau Jazz & Classics music festivals, and the Juneau Symphony performs regularly. Downtown Juneau boasts dozens of art galleries, which participate in the monthly First Friday Gallery Walk and the enormously popular December Gallery Walk held in the first week of December.

Written by Lyndsey Morgan