Prince of Wales Island (Alaska)

Lore & Background

Prince of Wales Island is the traditional territory of the Tlingit people, whose name for the island is Taan, meaning 'sea lion'. The Haida migrated into the area in the late 18th century. European contact began in 1741 when Aleksei Chirikov made the first recorded European landfall on the northwest coast of North America at Baker Island off the west coast. Subsequent expeditions included Spanish, British, and French voyages. In 1793, British navy officer George Vancouver named the archipelago after George, Prince of Wales, later King George IV. By 1825 the name 'Prince of Wales Island' was used for the largest island.

Reader's Guide

Prince of Wales Island is significant for its size, indigenous heritage, and natural resources. It is the fourth-largest island in the United States and the 97th-largest in the world. The island's economy has historically relied on logging, commercial fishing, and mining. Logging was the mainstay through most of the 20th century, though it declined later. Commercial fishing remains foundational for towns like Craig, Klawock, and Hydaburg. Mining for gold, copper, and other metals began in the late 19th century, and uranium was mined at Bokan Mountain in the 1950s and 1970s. The island is almost entirely federal land within Tongass National Forest and hosts two ranger districts. Tourism, including sport fishing, has grown due to logging roads and the Inter-Island Ferry Authority. The island is home to four federally recognized Alaska Native tribes.

Did You Know?

• Prince of Wales Island is the fourth-largest island in the United States, after Hawaii, Kodiak Island, and Puerto Rico.
• The island's Tlingit name, Taan, means 'sea lion'.
• El Capitan Pit, at 598.3 feet (182.4 m) high, is possibly the deepest vertical shaft in the United States.
• The only producing uranium mine in Alaska was located on the island, the Ross-Adams mine in Kendrick Bay.