History

Kenai Fjords National Park has a fascinating natural and cultural history.

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History Details

Kenai Fjords National Park has a fascinating natural and cultural history, remains of which are still visible today. Formed 23,000 years ago, the Harding Icefield was only a small part of the massive ice sheet that covered much of Southcentral Alaska. Although much of the ice loss happened when the last ice age ended, the icefield has been losing more and more area in recent years. The effects of ice on the Kenai Peninsula is visible by observing the rounded tops of some of the nearby peaks, which have been worn down by glaciers. As the ice retreats throughout the region, visitors can witness plants and trees taking over newly uncovered soil. The town of Seward was officially founded in 1903, but the Kenai Fjords area was home to native people, Russian traders, and early settlers much earlier than that. Seward was (and is) a major Alaskan transportation hub, starting with the completion of the Alaskan Railroad and development of the town's harbor. Both helped support the Alaskan gold rush and its influx of settlers in the early 1900s. In modern history, one of the most impactful events in the Kenai Peninsula was the 1964 earthquake that affected Seward and every other town along the coast. The 9.2-magnitude earthquake had its epicenter 200 kilometers from Seward; however, the effects were still massive. The shoreline along Seward's coast dropped as a result of the geologic movement and the resulting waves caused multiple large scale fires and immense damage to the town. Thirty- and 40-foot tsunamis hit the Seward coast, destroying almost all of the harbor's facilities and damaging many more with waves of flaming oil spilled in the harbor. Kenai Fjords was first established as a national monument in 1978 by then-President Nixon. Legislation leading to its designation as a National Park stalled during the watergate scandal and was not continued until 1978 when President Carter signed off on the change in 1980. No facilities or management structure was put in place with the transition and only a single ranger was assigned to the park as a liaison. The park grew and developed in the years following leading to its present condition as a well maintained and popular park.

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