Soldotna, AK - Old Ninilchik

Our next stop was a small town called Ninilchik where Russians had settled prior to the purchase of Alaska by America in 1867. Here overlooking Cook Inlet with incredible views of the volcanoes on the opposite shore, the Dena’ina Indians used this area for fishing. Later, the Russian-American Company established Ninilchik in the 1820s for its elderly and disabled employees, who could not endure the long journey back to Russia. Other Russian settlers soon congregated there, and in 1901, the settlers constructed the community’s Russian Orthodox Church. After Russia sold Alaska to the United States in 1867, most residents elected to stay and today there are still quite a few Russian decendents but only a few who speak the origianal dialect.

We stopped first at the Orthodox Church and its cemetery, with its awesome view across the bay. Yes that is one of the many volcanos across the bay.

We were especially intrigued by the cemetery. Well, we’re intrigued by many cemeteries but this one was terribly unique. There were several dozen graves outlined by small fences, separated by tiny walkways, overrun by flowers and bushes and decorated to the nines.

One of the most common names here was: Oskolkoff.

Why the 3-barred cross. Well, the top bar represents the signage which Herod put on Christ’s cross saying ‘This is the King of the Jews’ and the bottom bar represents the foot rest. The foot-rest is slanted because it is believed that in the final moments before Jesus gave up His spirit, His flesh spasmed and the foot-rest was kicked out of place. But in this true event there is also symbolism. The foot-rest points up, toward Heaven, on Christ’s right hand-side, and downward, to Hades, on Christ’s left.

Here are two memorials we found. Wayne’s ‘Gone Fishing,’ while Ella’s ‘Gone Fishing With Wayne.’

Down below the cemetery on its high bluff was the ‘Old Ninilchik’ which was terribly damaged by the 1964 earthquake. The village sank 3’ and huge sections, including its landing strip disappeared into Cook Inlet. ‘New Ninilchik’ was built on top of the bluff a few miles down the Sterling Highway.

But we stopped here in Old Ninilchik.

Here’s the view from the Church.

In the ‘Old Town’ are quite a few buildings like this, allowed to deteriorate naturally, surrounded by grasses and flowers.

Old boats.

Here’s another abandoned home with a very nice round landing for the stairway to the second story.

Some of the homes were moved to their present location and here you can see the markings on the boards to ensure that the home was put back together correctly.

Though there are quite a few well-kept buildings. Even a few newer ones like a B&B.

There is quite a marina here. First we noticed all the cars lining both sides of the road.

Then we saw the marina and realized that those cars were all people out fishing, either on a charter or with friends. Now, this is the picture I took. Pretty sad: cloudy day, few boats, low tide.

Here is one I lifted from Weewillystine.net on line. Sunny day, lots of boats but still low tide. In fact, it is so low that some of the boats are on their side on the sand.

Next we’re heading to a launching facility which has no marina to see how they launch and retrieve the boats with tractors.