Xunaa Shuká Hít (Huna Ancestors’ House)

The first permanent Łingít clan house in Glacier Bay in over 250 years, standing at Bartlett Cove.

Natural Attraction

Natural Attraction
Cultural Site (Tribal Clan House)0 ftlate May - early SeptemberNo permit needed

A carved clan house stands at the Bartlett Cove shoreline, marking the return of the Huna Łingít to their ancestral Homeland. Xunaa Shuká Hít — roughly 'Huna Ancestors' House' — is the first permanent clan house in Glacier Bay since Łingít villages were destroyed by an advancing glacier over 250 years ago. The Little Ice Age advance of the 1700s overran those villages; after the ice retreated, the Huna Łingít re-established fish camps and villages in the Bay. Today the Tribal House serves as a 'box of knowledge' for Łingít culture, hosting workshops on formline design, woodworking, weaving, song, and dance.

Getting there & parking

How To Get There
The Tribal House stands at Bartlett Cove, the site of National Park Service headquarters in Glacier Bay.
GPS Coordinates
58.45549298721174,-135.8801630802464

When to go

Best Time To Visit
The park's main visitor season runs late May through early September, with July the peak month; services outside that window may be extremely limited.
Best Visit Times
Outside the July peak — late May, June, or late August into early September — for thinner crowds while services still operate.
Best Season
Late May through early September, the park's main visitor season.
Busiest Season
July is the peak month of the late-May-through-early-September visitor season.
Seasonal Access
The park is technically open 24 hours a day with no entrance gates; the main visitor season is late May through early September, and services may be extremely limited outside it.
Winter Access
The park stays technically open 24 hours a day year-round, but services may be extremely limited outside the main visitor season.

What you will experience

Attraction Type
Cultural Site (Tribal Clan House)
Main Features
A permanent Łingít clan house memorializing the clan houses that once lined the shores of present-day Bartlett Cove, with Łingít formline artwork.
What Youll See
A carved clan house at the Bartlett Cove shoreline — in season, purple lupine can fill the foreground — and Łingít artistic traditions such as formline design, woodworking, and weaving practiced inside.
Unique Characteristics
First permanent clan house in Glacier Bay since Łingít villages were destroyed by an advancing glacier over 250 years ago — a direct cultural marker of the Little Ice Age glacial advance and retreat.
Photo Opportunities
The house with lupine wildflowers in the foreground is a documented NPS composition; shoreline angles from Bartlett Cove work well.
Photography Spots
The lupine meadow in front of the house and the Bartlett Cove waterfront.
Best Viewpoints
From the Bartlett Cove shoreline area near NPS headquarters, where the house faces the water.
Common Wildlife
Black bears frequent the Bartlett Cove area, and humpback whales are found in Glacier Bay's waters.
Geological Formation Type
Post-glacial shoreline site (Little Ice Age advance and retreat)
Scientific Interest
The site records the human dimension of the Little Ice Age: villages overrun by the 1700s glacial advance, then reoccupied after retreat — a rare, dated cultural marker of glacial cycling in Glacier Bay.

Facilities, fees & access

Entry Fees
Glacier Bay has no entrance gates and lists no entrance fees.
Permits Required
No
Restrooms Available
No
Picnic Areas
No
Water Available
No
Interpretive Signs
No
Nearby Services
NPS headquarters and the Glacier Bay Visitor Center are at Bartlett Cove; Gustavus, Alaska is the gateway community.
Nearby Facilities
National Park Service headquarters at Bartlett Cove; Bartlett Cove Campground and the Glacier Bay Visitor Center are in the same area.
Family Friendly Notes
A sheltered shoreline cultural site at Bartlett Cove; keep kids at required wildlife distances (100 yards from bears) since black bears use the area.

Safety

Safety Considerations
Shoreline site in bear country: keep 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other wildlife. Biology, not gravity, is the hazard here.

Nearby

Nearby Attractions
Bartlett Cove, Bartlett Cove Beach Rocks, the Bartlett Cove Public Use Dock, and the Beardslee Islands are close by.

Planning advice

Insider Tips
The house doubles as a working cultural space — Łingít communities hold workshops on formline design, woodworking, weaving, song and dance here, so you may see traditions being practiced, not just displayed.
Tips Advice
  • Pair your visit with the nearby Glacier Bay Visitor Center and the Bartlett Cove shoreline.
  • Look closely at the formline design carving — the house is also a working space for revitalizing Łingít artistic traditions.
  • This is a living cultural site, not a museum piece; be respectful during workshops and gatherings.
  • Keep at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other wildlife anywhere along the shoreline.

More details

Park Area
Bartlett Cove
Elevation Feet
0
Visitor Center Present
No
Guided Tours Available
No
Fishing Nearby
No
Swimming Allowed
No
Boating Allowed
No
Climbing Areas
No

Location

Frequently asked questions

Is Xunaa Shuká Hít worth visiting if I'm mainly here for glaciers?

Yes — it is the human half of the glacier story. The house is the first permanent clan house in Glacier Bay since an advancing glacier destroyed Łingít villages over 250 years ago, so it puts the ice you came to see in centuries-long context.

Is it open to the public?

Yes, NPS lists the site as open to the public. It sits at Bartlett Cove, the site of park headquarters, and the main visitor season runs late May through early September.

Does it cost anything to visit?

Glacier Bay has no entrance gates and lists no entrance fees, so viewing the Tribal House carries no park entry cost.

What actually happens inside the house?

NPS describes it as a 'box of knowledge' — Łingít communities and organizations use it for cultural workshops on formline design, woodworking, weaving, song and dance, healthy living, and more.

When should I go?

During the main visitor season, late May through early September. July is the peak month; services may be extremely limited outside that window.

Can I take photos?

The exterior is a documented photo subject — NPS's own imagery frames the house behind purple lupine. Be respectful if cultural activities are underway; this is a living clan house, not a static exhibit.

Is it safe to walk around the area with kids?

Bartlett Cove is bear country — black bears use the area — so keep the required 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other wildlife.

Icy Strait

Milky water crowded with whales and eagles. Alaska's prime marine wildlife corridor, best May-September.

Mount Fairweather

Tallest mountain in Glacier Bay at 15,300 ft, visible from 70+ miles away on clear days.

Mount Wright

Mount Wright (4,967 ft) marks Muir Inlet's gateway—a glacial-carved peak visible from cruise and kayak routes.

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Sources

Editorial review: YourNPGuide Editorial Team. Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research; no firsthand visit is implied unless explicitly documented. Learn how YourNPGuide works.

Last updated July 2026. Report an issue.