Native Village of Port Heiden
2200 James Street , Port Heiden, AK
(907) 837-2296
https://www.nativevillageofportheiden.com
A short community profile from the Lake and Peninsula Borough website:
Port Heiden is 424 miles southwest of Anchorage, at the mouth of the Meshik River on the north side of the Alaska Peninsula. It lies near the Aniakchak National Preserve and Monument. A State-owned airport consists of a lighted gravel 5,000' long by 100' wide runway and a 4,000' long by 100' wide lighted gravel crosswind runway.
The old village of Meshik was located at the current site of Port Heiden. Influenza epidemics during the early 1900s forced residents to relocate to other villages. During World War II, Fort Morrow was built nearby, and 5,000 personnel were stationed at the base. The Fort was closed after the war. A school was established in the early 1950s, which attracted people from surrounding villages. Today, Port Heiden is a traditional Alutiiq community, with a commercial fishing and subsistence lifestyle.
The Alaska Peninsula Wildlife Refuge is accessible from Port Heiden by small aircraft, boat or rugged cross-country hiking. Popular activities in this area include sport fishing and hunting, flightseeing, wildlife viewing, hiking, backpacking, boating and camping. Bird watchers can easily add to their life list since more than 200 species of birds have been observed in this area, of which 15-20 species of game birds, shorebirds, songbirds, and raptors are year-round residents.
Several bed and breakfasts are open here year-round to accommodate visitors.
Port Heiden is 424 miles southwest of Anchorage, at the mouth of the Meshik River on the north side of the Alaska Peninsula. It lies near the Aniakchak National Preserve and Monument. A State-owned airport consists of a lighted gravel 5,000' long by 100' wide runway and a 4,000' long by 100' wide lighted gravel crosswind runway.
The old village of Meshik was located at the current site of Port Heiden. Influenza epidemics during the early 1900s forced residents to relocate to other villages. During World War II, Fort Morrow was built nearby, and 5,000 personnel were stationed at the base. The Fort was closed after the war. A school was established in the early 1950s, which attracted people from surrounding villages. Today, Port Heiden is a traditional Alutiiq community, with a commercial fishing and subsistence lifestyle.
The Alaska Peninsula Wildlife Refuge is accessible from Port Heiden by small aircraft, boat or rugged cross-country hiking. Popular activities in this area include sport fishing and hunting, flightseeing, wildlife viewing, hiking, backpacking, boating and camping. Bird watchers can easily add to their life list since more than 200 species of birds have been observed in this area, of which 15-20 species of game birds, shorebirds, songbirds, and raptors are year-round residents.
Several bed and breakfasts are open here year-round to accommodate visitors.