Alaska Storyteller Photography

© Robert M. Braley Jr., Photographer

 

Home

United States

Alabama

Alaska

Anchor Point

Anchorage

Alaska Flag

Alaska Natives

Big Lake

Chicken

Chickaloon

Chugiak

Copper Center

Cold Bay

Cooper Landing

Cordova

Cottonwood Creek

Civil War Alaska

Delta Junction

Denali Park

Elmendorf AFB

Eureka

Fairbanks

Girdwood

Glennallen

Hatchers Pass

Healy

Houston

Homer

Hope

Hyder

Kenai

King Cove

Kodiak

Lake Louise

Nenana

Ninilchik

North Pole

Palmer

Palmer Hay Flats

Potter Marsh

Reflections Lake

Rabbit Slough

Richardson Highway

Russian America

Sand Point

Seward

Sitka

Soldotna

Sterling

Talkeetna

Tok

Tok Cut-Off

Trapper Creek

Captian Cook

Southeast

Swan Lake

Valdez

Wasilla

Willow

Yakutat

Alaska Highway

Alaska Highway 1

Alaska Highway 2

Alaska Highway 3

Alaska Highway 4

Alaska Highway 5

Alaska Highway 6

Alaska Highway 7

Alaska Highway 8

Alaska Highway 9

Alaska Highway 10

Alaska Highway 11

Alaska Highway 12

Alaska Highway 13

Historic Mileposts

Historic Mile 0

Historic Mile 2

Historic Mile 21

Historic Mile 35

Historic Mile 47

Historic Mile 49

Historic Mile 52

Historic Mile 73

Historic Mile 90

Historic Mile 101

Historic Mile 143

Historic Mile 148

Historic Mile 175

Historic Mile 191

Historic Mile 234

Historic Mile 300

Historic Mile 375

Historic Mile 392

Historic Mile 422

Historic Mile 456

Historic Mile 496

Historic Mile 514

Historic Mile 588

Historic Mile 627

Historic Mile 635

Historic Mile 649

Historic Mile 650

Historic Mile 710

Historic Mile 721

Historic Mile 733

Historic Mile 797

Historic Mile 836

Historic Mile 804

Historic Mile 905

Historic Mile 906

Historic Mile 890

Historic Mile 915

Historic Mile 941

Historic Mile 1010

Historic Mile 1016

Historic Mile 1067

Historic Mile 1072

Historic Mile 1083

Historic Mile 1093

Historic Mile 1152

Historic Mile 1164

Historic Mile 1188

Historic Mile 1202

Historic Mile 1229

Historic Mile 1221

Historic Mile 1225

Historic Mile 1249

Historic Mile 1254

Historic Mile 1257

Historic Mile 1264

Historic Mile 1306

Historic Mile 1309

Historic Mile 1314

Historic Mile 1332

Historic Mile 1422

Arkansas

Arizona

California

Bakersfield

Fort Crook Museum

George AFB

Klamath AFS

Klamath WWII Radar

Redwood NP

San Francisco

Samohi

Santa Monica

Venice

Whiskeytown

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Pearl Harbor

Kansas

Kentucky

Idaho

Idaho City

Illinois

Indiana

Louisiana

Iowa

Ohio

Oregon

Ashland

Lithia Park

Oregon Coast

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

New Mexico

Ruidoso

North Carolina

North Dakota

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Anacorties

Anacortes WA

Centralia WA

Chehalis WA

Elbe WA

Lewis County WA

Mt Rainer

Olympia WA

Steilacoom WA

Tacoma

Washington D.C.

Wisconsin

West Virginia

Wyoming

Canada

British Columbia

100 Mile House

108 Mile House

Chetwynd

Dawson Creek

Dawson Creek VC

Dawson Creek DT

Hope BC

Hudsons Hope

Pouce Coupe BC

Stewart BC

Yukon

Crete

Equator

Israel

Products

Nature

Animals

Flowers

Landscapes

Sunset

Wildflowers

Wildlife

Fish

Birds

Albatrosses

Canada Goose

Comorants

CaracarasFalcons

DucksGeeseSwans

Frigatebirds

Grebes

Loons

Osprey

PartridgesGrouse

Pelicans

redwingedblackbird1

HawksKitesEagles

ShearwatersPetrels

StormPetrels

Bats

Vultures

Mammals

Black Bear

bison

BitternsHeronsEgr

Caribou

Carnivorans

Cetaceans

Dall Sheep

Deer

Moose

Mountain Goat

Seals Sea Lions Walrus

Orca

Pikas Hares Rabbits

Polar Bear

Primates

Raccoons

Rodents

Great blue heron

Shrews

Bears

Beaver

Ungulates

Weasels

Military

C-17

T-6G

T-33

P-51 Mustang

KC-135

HH-60

F-86

F-80

C-47

HC-130N

C-130H

C-130E

C-123J

Alaska National Guard

Alaska Air National Guard

Camp Murray

Alaskanized

Ladd AFB

AKNG Museum

U-Tapao

Pixels

links

About

Policy/Copyright

Contact

Photo Sizes

Ninilchik, Alaska

About halfway between Soldotna and Homer on the Sterling Highway is Ninilchik, a scenic area with a Russian accent, some great clamming beaches and a view of a number of impressive volcanoes across Cook Inlet. For many travelers, Ninilchik is merely a stop for gas and a quick look at the Russian church. But this interesting little village is well worth spending some time in.

History: The community is actually the oldest on the Kenai Peninsula, having been settled in the 1820s by employees of the Russian-American Company. Many stayed even after imperial Russia sold Alaska to the United States and their descendants form the core of the present community.

Like so many other Kenai Peninsula towns, Ninilchik suffered heavily during the 1964 Good Friday earthquake when the village sank three feet and huge sections of land, including its landing strip, disappeared into the Cook Inlet. Subsequently, ‘New Ninilchik’ was built on the bluffs between the Ninilchik River and Deep Creek, along several miles of the Sterling Highway.

Old Ninilchik Village, the site of the original community, is a postcard scene of faded log cabins in tall grass, beached fishing boats and the spectacular backdrop of Mt. Redoubt. There are a dozen buildings, including the Sorensen/Tupper home built in 1895 with fir logs salvaged from fish traps and the town’s first Russian school house.

The most spectacular building is the Russian Orthodox Church, built in 1901 and reached from a posted footpath in the village. The historic church topped with the unique spires and crosses of the Russian Orthodox faith, in on a wide bluff and commands an unbelievable view of Cook Inlet and the volcanoes on the other side. A Russian Orthodox cemetery adjoins the church and together they make for a photographer’s delight.

The beaches along Cook Inlet contain enormous clam beds and catching giant razor clams is a favorite activity for locals and visitors. You can rent or purchase a shovel in town and then head to either Ninilchik Bear State Recreation Site or Deep Creek.

Ninilchik is well known for its saltwater king salmon fishing and record halibut fishing. A major halibut fishery off Ninilchik has produced some of the largest trophy halibut found in Cook Inlet, including a 466-lb. unofficial world record sport-caught halibut. There are plenty of charters and expert guides located in Ninilchik.

The Kenai Peninsula State Fair is held in Ninilchik the third weekend in August. Touted as the ‘Biggest Little Fair in Alaska,’ it draws a crowd from all over the Kenai area for a rodeo, parade, crafts, food, exhibits and a great deal of fun.

Population: 785

Location: Ninilchik lies on the west coast of the Kenai Peninsula on the Sterling Highway, 38 miles southwest of Kenai and 188 road miles from Anchorage.

Access: By road via the Sterling Highway.

Accommodations: Six bed and breakfasts, three cabins, one hotel, two private RV/campgrounds, four state campgrounds, several restaurants/cafes, all services.

Ref: 2007 Travel Guide

Website powered by Network Solutions®