Petersburg is at the northern end of the Wrangell Narrows, a small channel near Frederick Sound in Alaska's Inside Passage in southeast Alaska. Petersburg was founded by a Norwegian homesteader, and the small town still retains a Norwegian flair. Tourism and fishing are the two main draws to Petersburg. The town has one of Alaska's largest fishing fleets, several processing plants, and is one of the richest small communities in the state.
During the summer fishing season, Petersburg's canneries are filled with hundreds of workers from around the world. Our Petersburg guide told us that workers from over 20 countries were there, living in dormitories and large tents. The pay is good, and some workers migrate back and forth between their home countries and Petersburg each year.
Tourists like Petersburg because of its proximity to Frederick Sound, the summer feeding ground of hundreds of humpback whales. Scenic LeConte Glacier, the southernmost saltwater terminating glacier in North America, is only 30 miles away. In addition, the hiking around the town and on nearby Kupreanof Island is excellent.
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