BARROW, ALASKA

The Northernmost American City!

Barrow was incorporated as a first-class city in 1958. This community is traditionally known as Ukpeagvik, “place where snowy owls are hunted.” However, Barrow takes its modern name from Point Barrow, named in 1825 by Captain Beechey of the Royal Navy for Sir John Barrow of the British Admiralty. Beechey was plotting the Arctic coastline of North America at the time.

An important historical site in the area is the Pigniq archaeological site which contains 16 dwelling mounds of a culture believed to have existed from 500-900 AD. The archaeological findings are considered a key link between the prehistoric cultures of Alaska and Canada. Another interesting site is the Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station in nearby Browerville. Cape Smythe was built as a whaling station in 1893 and is the oldest frame building in the Arctic.

Iñupiat Eskimo:

Barrow has 4,429 residents, of which approximately 61 percent are Iñupiat Eskimo.  Although Barrow is a modern community, subsistence hunting, fishing and whaling are still very important to the local economy. Many residents who work full- or part-time continue to hunt and fish for much of their food.  

Visitors to Barrow will learn about the North Slope’s traditional culture at the Inupiat Heritage Center, where they can also purchase arts and crafts such as baleen boats, etched baleen, carved ivory, masks, parkas and fur mittens. 

Guests will also get to dip a toe, finger, foot, leg or their whole body into the Arctic Ocean!