This amazing beach is tucked away in Wrangell, a beautiful rain forested coastal village in far Southeast Alaska. The weather is warmer than most of the rest of the state and it’s easy to see why people have inhabited this spot since time immemorial. Hidden along the beach are petroglyphs, left by ancestors to send us a message. Go for yourself to try to read the signs, and enjoy a fantastic day on the beach.
Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park in Wrangell is the place with the most petroglyphs in Southeast Alaska and was designated a State Historic Park in 2000.
No one really knows what the petroglyphs mean, but guesses based on archaeological records and cultural stories, petroglyphs are probably a form of writing and a way to record events.
During the construction of the visitor facility, two new petroglyphs were unearthed, buried in the sand. They had been thought lost, but their rediscovery was celebrated.
As they have found that making rubbings on the petroglyphs decreases the life of the carvings, there are replicas of several designs displayed on the deck for visitors.
Petroglyphs could have been drawn to remember victories in war, to document the conquest of a territory, to remember important potlatches, shamanistic rituals, or perhaps simply they are the work of a Tsimshian or Tlingit artist.
Visit the incredible Petroglyph Beach in Wrangell and see the more than 40 petroglyphs dotted along on the beach. It's truly an experience not to be missed.
