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Above: The Ascension Church of Our Lord Chapel at Karluk on Kodiak Island. Photo by
Tommy’s Dog

Climate change is impacting cultural sites across Alaska. From Denali to the Bering Sea coast and down to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park, melting snowfields, eroding coastlines, and increasingly severe floods are unearthing artifacts faster than they can be preserved. Climate change also shows up as a stressor in Preservation Alaska’s annual list of at-risk historical sites.

The number two site on the group’s 2024 list is Pilgrim Hot Springs, 0 miles north of Nome. The geothermic site, and its tree oasis in the vast tundra, bear evidence of Indigenous, gold rush, aviation, and homestead histories, along with buildings from a Catholic-run orphanage dating to the early 1900s. The site is also a popular recreation area today. But beavers, who are dramatically spreading north with warmer winters and increased woody vegetation, have flooded the area. Efforts are underway to mitigate flooding and stabilize buildings. Learn more at pilgrimhotsprings.com.

Preservation Alaska also cites climate change for the increased coastal erosion that threatens the Ascension Church of Our Lord Chapel at Karluk on Kodiak Island. Built in 1888, it is believed to be the oldest Russian Orthodox church in Alaska. In 2021, the building was lifted and moved 80 feet inland to a temporary location. Gravesites may also be affected, depending on erosion rates. Learn more about preservation of Russian Orthodox sites at rossialaska.org.

Read the full Preservation Alaska 2024 list of threatened sites at alaskapreservation.org.

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