Travel Guide Seward

With just under 3,000 inhabitants, the town of Seward nestles at the bottom of Resurrection Fjord. Its name comes from the American Secretary of State William H. Seward who organized, with a masterful hand, the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. The site was chosen at the beginning of the 20th century to be the starting point of the Iditarod Trail which allowed to reach Nome where gold had been discovered. Then, in 1903, the engineers of the Alaska Central Railroad chose this bay, free of ice, as the starting point of the railroad which was to join Fairbanks. Opened in 1923, the line made Seward the first port in Alaska. But the railroad made it possible to reach Anchorage in a much faster way. The city lost its aura to Anchorage, which kept growing. In 1964, Seward was almost wiped off the map by the giant tidal wave that followed the earthquake. It wasn't until the arrival of cruise ships in its deepwater port in the mid-1980s that the city began to grow again.Today, Seward welcomes international and American visitors who come primarily to cruise the Kenai Fjords, to watch the glaciers crack and roar and especially to see the wildlife that populates the icy waters of this fjord: whales, orcas, dolphins, seals, sea lions, sea lions, mackerel... It also attracts the inhabitants of Anchorage who, on weekends, come to spend a few hours of relaxation by going fishing. The city is lively and rich in tourist attractions and events.The week of July 4th is the busiest time of the year for Seward, which celebrates both the U.S. National Day festivities and the popular Mount Marathon! For the occasion, runners from all over Alaska and even Canada travel to Seward to participate in this extremely challenging event that climbs to the top of the mountain overlooking the surrounding area. It's best to avoid going to town at this time, unless you're a marathoner yourself.