Located in Sitka, Alaska, Castle Hill was the site of American flag-raising in 1867 commemorating the transfer of Alaska to the United States of America by the Russian government which occupied it from 1804 to 1867. In 1959, Castle Hill was also the location of the official raising of the first 49-star U.S. flag, celebrating the admission of Alaska as the country?s 49th state. And in 1962, Castle Hill was declared a National Historic Landmark.

No structures remained on Castle Hill but archaeological excavations were done to recover artifacts and information about the early settlers of the once Russian occupied landmark. With the help of local residents who were invited to work at the quarry, trained archaeologists and historians from other communities who participated as volunteers, an astonishing 4,100 lbs. of artifacts which is about 300,000 pieces were salvaged. These excavations attracted an estimated 200,000 visitors in 1997 and 1998.