Join us, a Century Later...
Juneau, AK events
(Click to download a printable calendar of the events that took place in Juneau)
Special thanks go to all the organizations and individuals who gave funding and materials to support 2018's many anniversary events: Pioneers of Alaska Men’s Igloo 6, Pioneers of Alaska Women’s Igloo 6, Pioneers of Alaska Grand Igloo, The Brady Foundation, Alaska Marine Lines, 1st Bank, Bruce Botelho, Don Burford, Thomas J. Dawson, Fred Thorsteinson, Alaska State Library, Archives, and Museum, Orpheus Project, Juneau Yacht Club, Alaska Commercial Fishermen's Memorial, The Sophia Committee, and more.
Exhibition of Dan Fruits paintings of S.S. Princess Sophia
-May 4 - September 29 | 9:00am - 6:00pm | Juneau-Douglas City Museum Impressionist oil paintings depicting scenes from the opera. JDCM site
S.S. Princess Sophia cemetery walking tour
-May 29 | 5:30pm-7:30pm | Juneau-Douglas City Museum Reservations required, see JDCM website.
Opening reception for S.S. Princess Sophia "Titanic of the North" traveling exhibition
-June 1 | 4:30pm - 7:00pm | Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum
"Life Aboard the Princess Sophia" underwater archaeology presentation by Jacques Marc and Annette Smith
-June 1 | 7:00pm | Alaska State Library, Archive and Museum
"Titanic of the North" traveling exhibition of Princess Sophia artifacts
-June 1 - October 6 | 9:00am - 5:0pm | Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum Read about the traveling instalation here and here.
Presentation by Brittany Vis, Associate Director of the Maritime Museum of British Columbia
-July 6 | 6:00pm | Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum
Dedication of S.S. Princess Sophia memorial plaque by Senator Dennis Egan
-July 14 | 2:00pm | Eagle River State Recreation Area by Pioneers of Alaska Juneau.
S.S. Princess Sophia cemetery walking tour
-July 31 | 5:30pm-7:30pm | Juneau-Douglas City Museum Reservations required, see JDCM website.
City Salon: Literary discussion on "The Sinking of the Princess Sophia" by Coates and Morrison
-August 11 | 4:30pm-6:00pm | Juneau-Douglas City Museum.
Author Talk: Ken Coates, co-author of "The Sinking of the S.S. Princess Sophia."
-September 13 | 5:30pm | Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum
Cruise to Vanderbilt Reef: Opera Fundraiser
-September 16 | 1:00-4:00pm | Auke Bay main ramp. Tickets and details: http://orpheusproject.org/
Book signing with Mary Ehrlander, Author of "Walter Harper: Alaska Native Son"
-September 22 | 10:30-12:00pm | Juneau-Douglas City Museum
Author Talk with Mary Ehrlander, author of "Walter Harper: Alaska Native Son"
-September 22 | 2:00pm | Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum
Evening at Egan: "Creating the Princess Sophia Opera"
-September 28 | 7:00pm | UAS Egan Library
Annual Evergreen Cemetery Memorial
-October 25th, 2018 | 12:00 Noon | Evergreen Cemetery at the grave of Walter Harper and Francis Wells, courtesy of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. This ceremony takes place every year.
Centennial Commemoration Ceremony
-October 25th, 2018 | 5:00pm | Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum Join the community in commemorating the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the Sophia. The ceremony honoring the victims, rescuers, and those who dealt with the physical aftermath of the disaster will include a State proclomation, and should be informative and moving and a reasonable duration. See the poster
Princess Sophia Opera Premier
-October 25th | 8:00 PM | Juneau-Douglas High School Details and tickets at orpheusproject.org
Last Sailing Celebration Dinner
-October 26th, 2018 | Two seatings: 7:00pm | Juneau Yacht Club. The night that the Sophia departed Skagway there was an enormous celebration of the end of a long season up north and the beginning of a gentler wintertime down south. Help support the costs of various commemorative installations by celebrating life and happiness with an authentic steamship dinner at the Juneau Yacht Club in honor this last night of joy and revelry. Your choice of Halibut or Prime Rib entrees. Black tie or 1918 period attire is encouraged but of course not required. Tickets are available here | See the poster
Princess Sophia Opera Performance
-October 26th | 8:00 PM | Juneau-Douglas High School Details and tickets at orpheusproject.org
Princess Sophia Opera Matinée
-October 27th | 2:00 PM | Juneau-Douglas High School Details and tickets at orpheusproject.org
A regional tragedy
There were many anniversary events in other cities, including:
Other cities affected by the sinking of the Sophia -whose manifest included hundreds of Americans and Canadians- are planning events for 2018.
Skagway Memorial Plaque and Storyboard
Weekend of October 20th, 2018 | Centennial Park. Unveiling and dedication at the Sophia's port of departure. Details to follow.