Russian Collectible Dolls
Matryoshka Dolls, Russian Princesses and Onion-domed Cathedrals – an Unexpected Alaska
Most cruise passengers and tourists coming to Alaska expect to see whales and glaciers, bears and mushing dogs, and national historic parks and gold rush towns, saloons and houses of ill repute – but few are prepared for the rich evidence of Russian history.
In fact, very few are even aware that for a period of time, a fairly hefty chunk of history, Russia actually controlled Alaska.
The Russian occupation of Alaska began in the mid 1700s when Russian explorers like Vitus Bering started to delve further into the area, and when fur traders began to settle at places such as Iliuliuk on Unalaska.
Today, Unalaska, located on the Aleutian Island chain, offers visitors a glimpse of that past with the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Ascension. Built in 1825, complete with red roofs, green onion domes and a small churchyard, the church was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970 and was recently restored in 1998. It now houses one of the largest collections of religious artifacts and icons in the United States.
As the fur trade grew and more Russians ventured into the area, the first permanent Russian settlement in Alaska was established in 1784 by Gregory Shelikoff and his fur company on Kodiak Island, a settlement that was moved 8 years later to the site of the present-day Kodiak.
Kodiak still retains much of its Russian flavor, complete even with Russian street names.
The Baranov Museum, a warehouse built in the 1790s by Alexander Baranov to store furs, is the oldest remaining Russian structure in the state and houses a fine array of artifacts of Kodiak’s time as a Russian settlement.
Other Russian themed attractions include the beautiful Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church established in 1794 complete now with icons and references to Saint Herman, the first priest canonized in the USA. There is also the Veniaminov Research Institute Museum which showcases bibles and icons used by the Orthodox missionaries in the 1800s
An annual Kodiak event at Monks Lagoon celebrates the canonization Father Herman and the Saint Herman’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kodiak is named in his honor.
In 1799, with the Russian fur trade in Russia booming, Alexander Baranov, the new head of the late Gregory Shelikoff’s company, established a new settlement of New Archangel that became the capital of Russian America. It was later to evolve into the present town of Sitka.
Sitka is located on the coast of what is now appropriately named Baranof Island.
Pride of the town is St. Michael’s Cathedral, a bright blue, onion-domed Russian Orthodox Church that dominates Sitka’s skyline. Although the original cathedral built in 1844 was destroyed by fire in 1966, the reconstructed church, where a living congregation continues to worship, features many of the icons and reliquaries that were salvaged from that fire.
The Russian Bishop’s House, part of Sitka National Historical Park, is the oldest Russian building in Sitka. Built in 1842 for the Bishop Ivan Veniaminov, now Saint Innocent, of the Orthodox church, the buildings have been restored to reflect its time as a school, chapel and residence.
The 107 acre Sitka National Historic Park also interprets the site of the battle between the Tlingits and the Russians in 1804. Battles between indigenous peoples and Russians were disastrous for Alaska Natives, as were the foreign diseases that white explorers brought to the land.
One of the more romantic attractions is the Lutheran cemetery where visitors can find the grave of Russian Princess Maksoutoff, the wife of Alaska’s last Russian governor, Dimitrii Maksoutoff.
And to complete the picture, Sitka’s own New Archangel Dancers perform authentic Russian dances for visitors to the the town – usually when the cruise ships arrive.
But the reign of the Russians in Alaska was coming to an end. Already by the early 1800s the Americans were starting to take over part of the fur trade that had been established by the Russians, and it was just a matter of time before, in 1867, US Secretary of State, William H Seward offered Russia $7,200,000, or two cents per acre, for Alaska.
Many Americans called the purchase “Seward’s Folly” and considered it a waste of money. But it wasn’t long before gold was discovered, triggering several prospector stampedes north.
Alaska became a territory in 1912 and finally a state in 1959 and the Russian occupation of Alaska became a distant memory – but for those willing to look beyond the usual attractions of a trip to Alaska, the evidence of that time, and pride in it too, lives on.
About the Author
A freelance travel writer for a number of years, Kevin Retief now publishes several travel web sites including Travel Tidings Alaska at http://www.traveltidingsalaska.com – a free Alaska travel guide about Alaska tourism and Alaska vacations with travel information on everything from Alaskan cruises to cheap hotel rates, maps and weather.
Opening Pullip Hello Kitty Part 1!
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Indiana PACERS Russian Nesting Doll Set Collectible BIN $21.95 |
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Collectible Russian 10 pc Handpainted Nesting Doll Roman Gods Matryoshka 9.5″ $629.00 |
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N.Y. METS Baseball Russian Nesting Doll Set Collectible $21.95 |
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UTAH JAZZ Russian Nesting Stacking Doll Set Collectible $21.95 |
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BARBIE BFMC Darya Barbie Doll GOLD LABEL Collection Russian Silkstone T7675 $139.95 |
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MATRYOSHKA Russian Nesting Doll collection Russian Doll $69.00 |
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Large Russian Nesting Dolls Wood 9.5″ Wooden Set 5 Five Doll Collectible $44.99 |
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Russian Barbie Dolls of the World Collection $16.95 |
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Wooden Russian Nesting Dolls Wood 3″ Set 5 Blue Doll Wooden Doll Collectibles $26.99 |
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Lot 12-Collectible Doll Pairs, Mexico, Amish, Dutch, German, Russian,Scottish $29.99 |
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VINTAGE SOVIET RUSSIAN DOLL TOY USSR COLLECTION CUTE $49.00 |
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BARBIE “Mila” 2010 Fashion Collection RUSSIAN DOLL, #T7672 NIB $71.99 |
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BARBIE “Nicolai” 2010 Fashion Collection RUSSIAN DOLL, #T7679 NIB $71.99 |
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DARYA Barbie Doll Russian Silkstone GOLD Label NEW NRFB Fashion Model Collection $147.95 |
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KEN Fashion Model Collection Nicolai NRFB Russian doll……. No more than 4000 $139.99 |
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1997 BARBIE DOLLS OF THE WORLD COLLECTION – RUSSIAN BLONDE – NIB – NRFB $19.99 |
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Russian Collectible Handmade Porcelain Doll – Unique Jewelry or Trinket Box $16.00 |
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Russian Collectible Handmade Porcelain Doll – Unique Jewelry or Trinket Box $16.00 |
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Russian Collectible Handmade Porcelain Doll – Unique Jewelry or Trinket Box $15.00 |
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Russian Collectible Handmade Porcelain Doll $10.00 |
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Russian Collectible Handmade Porcelain Doll $10.00 |
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Russian Collectible Handmade Porcelain Doll – Unique Jewelry or Trinket Box $17.00 |
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Russian Collectible Handmade Porcelain Doll – Unique Jewelry or Trinket Box $17.00 |
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Russian Collectible Handmade Porcelain Doll – Unique Jewelry or Trinket Box $17.00 |
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Russian Collectible Handmade Porcelain Doll – Unique Jewelry or Trinket Box $22.00 |
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Russian Collectible Handmade Porcelain Doll – Unique Jewelry or Trinket Box $15.00 |
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Russian Collectible Handmade Porcelain Doll – Unique Jewelry or Trinket Box $15.00 |
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Russian Collectible Handmade Porcelain Doll – Unique Jewelry or Trinket Box $16.00 |
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NEW BARBIE FASHION MODEL COLLECTION MILA RUSSIAN DOLL SILKSTONE BODY $89.00 |
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RUSSIAN NESTING DOLLS (3) VINTAGE COLLECTIBLE MIDCENTURY TOY RETRO $9.99 |
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Barbie Silkstone Mila™ Barbie Doll 2011 Russian Collection New in Box $69.35 |
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The Hamilton Collection Lara Russian Beauty Doll 21″ $189.99 |
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1996 Rare Dolls of the World Collection Russian Barbie $17.99 |
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Russian 2nd Edition 1997 Barbie Doll Dolls of the World Collection 16500 NRFB $25.00 |
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RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL 5 PCS NEST FAMILY MAN COLLECTIBLE ART $16.00 |
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RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL MINI 10 PCS NEST COLLECTIBLE ART 2″H $30.00 |
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RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL MINI 10 PCS NEST COLLECTIBLE ART 2″H $30.00 |
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Russian Nesting Doll Collection 3 Sets $29.99 |
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NIB Dolls of the World Collection Russian Barbie Doll $21.95 |
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A0462 1988 RUSSIAN BARBIE!! DOLLS OF THE WORLD COLLECTION!! $19.95 |
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Handpainted Russian Nesting Dolls Wood Woden Blue 5 Russia 5 Doll Collectible $40.49 |
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Dolls of the World Collection Russian Barbie $14.99 |
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NEW RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL 5 PCS NEST COLLECTIBLE ART BLACK CAT HALLOWEEN $45.00 |
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RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL 5 PCS NEST COLLECTIBLE ART FAMILY $56.00 |
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RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL 15 PCS NEST COLLECTIBLE ART FLOWERS $110.00 |
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RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL 10 PCS NEST COLLECTIBLE ART FLOWERS $52.00 |
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RARE MARK SHAGAL RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL 5 PCS NEST COLLECTIBLE ART $85.00 |
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RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL 5 PCS NEST COLLECTIBLE ART VILLAGERS $62.00 |
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RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL 5 PCS NEST COLLECTIBLE ART “FAMILY” $68.00 |
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RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL 10 PCS NEST COLLECTIBLE ART $42.00 |
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RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL 10 PCS NEST COLLECTIBLE ART FLOWERS $58.00 |
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Vintage Paper Dolls – Russian Girl ANIA – Uncut Collectibles $5.00 |
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VINTAGE SOVIET RUSSIAN DOLL TOY USSR COLLECTION CUTE $24.00 |
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MILA Barbie Fashion Model Collection Russian Folk SILKSTONE Doll Gold Label NRFB $69.99 |
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Vintage Collectible Traditional Russian USSR Rare Retro Funny Rubber Doll $35.00 |
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RUSSIAN BARBIE – “DOLLS OF THE WORLD COLLECTION” 1988 $19.98 |
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VINTAGE RUSSIAN SOVIET DOLL TOY USSR LOVELY COLLECTION $39.00 |
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VINTAGE RUSSIAN SOVIET TWIN DOLLS TOY USSR COLLECTION $49.00 |
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VINTAGE RUSSIAN SOVIET DOLL TOY USSR LOVELY COLLECTION $29.00 |
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VINTAGE RUSSIAN SOVIET DOLL TOY USSR LOVELY COLLECTION $39.00 |
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1996 Dolls of the World Collection-Russian Barbie $14.95 |
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* Hamilton Collection LARA 21″ Connoisseur Russian Doll $179.95 |
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BARBIE DOLLS OF THE WORLD COLLECTION “Russian Barbie 1996 ” #16500 NRFB $29.99 |
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VINTAGE RUSSIAN NESTING DOLLS “X-MEN” 1994 VERY-RARE ! (COPPERSTOWN COLLECTION $135.00 |
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VINTAGE USSR Russian nesting doll – POLKHOV MAIDAN- CZARINKA BOX – COLLECTIBLE $149.99 |
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Unique Collectible Hand Painted Wooden RUSSIAN DOLLS Matryoshka Nesting Dolls(3) $29.95 |
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2011 NEW LE Barbie Gold Fashion Model Collection SILKSTONE RUSSIAN MILA DOLL Ret $79.99 |
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Fashion Model Collection Barbie Russian Theme Darya Silkstone Doll ~ NUDE ~ $65.00 |
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BARBIE 1988 RUSSIAN BARBIE DOLLS OF THE WORLD COLLECTION NIB NRFB $19.99 |
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1988 RUSSIAN BARBIE DOLL OF THE WORLD COLLECTION MATTEL 1916 $22.00 |
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Kikkerland Babushka Pepper Mill, Red $19.59 Red Babushka pepper grinderLooks like a traditional Russian nesting dollTurn head to grind and dispense pepperMade of beech woodMeasures 6-1/4-inches high by 2-1/4-inches diameter Spice up your table with this adorable Babushka pepper mill that looks like a traditional Russian nesting doll. Turn head to grind and dispense pepper. Made of beech wood…. |
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Russian Nesting Dolls Decorative Night Light $11.49 Handcrafted in the USA to the highest standards using licensed materials with great individual care and attention to detail. We are certain that you will be completely delighted and satisfied with our product. All purchased Items will arrive via USPS and a the tracking # will be sent to you. We also offer matching Drawer Knobs, Outlet Covers, Double Size Switchplates, Triple Size Switchplates, Roc… |
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Matryoshka Madness Cutie $11.97 Nest all your Matryoshkas inside on another…or display all six! These traditional”Grandmother Babushkas”measure 4 1/2 inches tall down to 1 1/4 inches small…. |
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Matryoshka Madness Robot $9.99 Nest all your robot Matryoshkas inside on another…or display all six! The tallest robot measures 4 1/2 inches tall while the littlest measures 1 1/4 small…. |
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Matryoshka Madness Ninja $9.99 Nest all your ninja Matryoshkas inside on another…or display all six! The tallest robot measures 4 1/2 inches tall while the littlest measures 1 1/4 small…. |
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Collectors Guide to Nesting Dolls: Histories, Identification, Values $14.95 … |
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12 Inch Action Figures: World War Two (Action Figures and Toys) $12.95 The first of a new sub-series in Histoire and Collection’s growing set of full color graphic books depicting everything from Uniforms to Aircraft types, in minute detail with many varients.This new book concentrates on the 12 inch figurine as a collectors item and their many variations Illustrated throughout in full color, this will be an essential book for the modeler and hobbyist…. |
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The Art of the Russian Matryoshka $38.59 The book is the complete account of the history, production, varieties, and creators of the nesting doll that has become a symbol of Russian folk culture, if not Russia itself. Contributing to the history are commissioned studies from three of Russia’s leading authorities on toys and folk art. The book includes 330 color plates, 200 of which are carefully selected examples of dolls. The examples i… |
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Young Lenin Star * Russian Collectible Enamel Pin * pin. october $4.88 … |
