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Russian heritage · Alaska

Russian traditions. Alaskan address.

Discover a Russian Old Believer community on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, where a visit arranged with Nina at Samovar Café offers a welcoming introduction to local food and traditions.

Nikolaevsk, Alaska

Blue onion dome of the Russian Old Believers chapel in Nikolaevsk, Alaska
Photo: woodsm / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Display crop. Image license: CC BY-SA 2.0.

A different side of Alaska

Beyond the glaciers and fishing harbors of the Kenai Peninsula, Nikolaevsk offers a glimpse of Russian Old Believer heritage. This is a living community near Anchor Point, within reach of a stay in the Homer area.

Begin with an arranged visit to Nina’s Samovar Café. Alaska’s official tourism guide recommends booking ahead for tea and Russian treats. It is a chance to meet a local host and hear a story that scenery alone cannot tell.

Meet the people behind the place

This Yes Theory video inspired our feature. Watch it for a personal introduction, then make your own arrangements with local hosts.

Watch on YouTube →