Information About

Whitney Island

Whitney Island

Quick Facts
Region:
  • Hoonah-Angoon (CA)
Nearest City:
Elevation:
  • 331 ft (100.89 m)
About

between Fanshaw Bay and Cleveland Passage 3 mi. NE of Cape Fanshaw and 70 mi. E of Sitka, Coast Mts.

Cape Fanshaw next to Whiney Island is a popular anchorage.

Historic and prehistoric heritage sites are located on Whitney Island. Whitney Island is designated "Semi-remote Recreation" in its northern part within the Tongass National Forest.

Southern Whitney Island is designated Public Recreation & Tourism-Undeveloped.

Managed Resources: dispersed and marine-related recreation, scenic resources, habitat and wildlife, adjoining anchorage, and heritage sites. Tidelands along this unit are a traditional marine invertebrate subsistence harvest area. Waters to the east and south of this parcel are an important anchorage used by commercial and sport fishermen, recreational boaters and deer, moose and black bear hunters. Old-growth timber on south Whitney Island helps protect this somewhat exposed anchorage from winds. The coast is lined by estuarine wetlands. Large marine mammals are found in the waters adjacent to the island. Dungeness crabs are commercially harvested in surrounding waters.

This unit occupies the moderately sloped southern end of Whitney Island, which is almost entirely covered by wetlands. Adjacent portions of Frederick Sound are a
major wildlife viewing area for humpback whales. Cruise ships, commercial charters, tourists traveling in their own boats and recreational boaters all travel to this area
specifically, to view and photograph whales. TLRMP designates the remainder of Whitney as 'Semi-Remote Recreation', which is generally similar to the Ru designation.
Most of the island is covered by wetlands except for areas adjacent to the coast covered by spruce and hemlock forest. At least six historic sites are located on this parcel, all of which are related to the Whitney Island Fur Farm.

Getting To Whitney Island

You'll need to boat or float plane out to the island from Juneau or Petersburg would be the closest major hubs.

History of Whitney Island

Named in 1887 by Lieutenant Commander C. M. Thomas, U.S. Navy (USN), for William Collins Whitney, 1841-1904, lawyer and Secretary of Navy under President Grover Cleveland, 1885-89. Name published by U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) in the 1891 Coast Pilot (p. 145).There once was a fox farm on Whitney Island it's been referred to as heritage site "SUM-032". There are still pilling in the beach from the old location.

Sitka Republican Senator Bert Stedman, is quoted saying; “Whitney Island used to have a post office,” Stedman said. “There used to be families living there a hundred years ago, or even less than a hundred years and now it’s all just grown over. So, some of this land has been used before. In fact, there’s remnants of the old fox farm railroad, little funky railroad that went around the island to feed the minks, when you go in there and anchor up. So, it’s very suitable land for anchorage, for boats and potential development.”

There's a report by the USFS: USFS Site Report for Whitney Island Fur Farm. K. Arndt. 1979 ( tDAR id: 351349)

Dec 18/19, 2010; A five-member deer hunting party out of Petersburg, Alaska, whose 34-foot cabin cruiser; the Sandy M or MV Playmate (current resources conflict) began taking on water and was abandoned near Whitney Island, her crew of 5 were rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. The story was published in the Petersburg Pilot and ADN but is no longer live.