Founded by Peter Buschmann in the early twentieth century this thriving and bustling fishing community has long been a favorite destination for our expeditions in Southeast Alaska. With just over 3,000 residents – many being of Norwegian descent – Petersburg is considered one of the wealthiest per capita towns in the United States thanks to its long-standing connection to the productive fisheries. Having spent the entire day here we were able to experience many aspects of this island community, from exploring the intertidal beaches, hiking through the muskeg and forest ecosystems to witnessing the processing of fresh caught fish at one of the local canneries. As a finale to our day here and a salute to one of the many sustainable fisheries of Southeast Alaska a Dungeness crab feast was held on board for dinner.
6/14/2025
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National Geographic Quest
Southeast Alaska
On the last full day of our voyage, we woke in Endicott Arm near the Dawes Glacier. We spent the morning enjoying Zodiac tours to the face of Dawes Glacier and watched multiple calving events. We were also able to spot several harbor seals, waterfalls, and a couple harbor porpoises on the way. After lunch we had the opportunity to participate in a polar plunge. Forty people decided to brave the frigid water for a short swim. Those of us not eager to jump into glacier water were able to watch from the bow. After the polar plunge, we warmed up on board as we started transiting towards Juneau. On the way, we stopped at a beautiful waterfall to once again admire the amazing natural beauty of Alaska. During our farewell recap, we were treated to a quick visit by a humpback whale. We ended our day with a slideshow made up of our favorite photos and memories of an amazing week on board National Geographic Quest .