The Fate of a Historic Sawmill and Its Impact on Steinway & Sons
The decline of logging in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest has far-reaching consequences, even reaching the heart of New York City. In Astoria, Queens, Steinway & Sons, one of the oldest operating factories in the city, continues to craft its iconic pianos using wood from the remote forests of Southeast Alaska. Central to this process is Sitka spruce, a type of wood known for its unique acoustic properties that contribute to the distinct sound of Steinway pianos.
Sitka spruce is used in several key components of the pianos, including the ribs, braces, soundboards, and white keys. This specific wood, sourced from the islands of Southeast Alaska, is prized for its density and resonance. However, the supply chain that delivers this essential material is under threat due to reduced logging activity in the Tongass National Forest.
Viking Lumber, Steinway’s sole supplier of Sitka spruce, is facing a critical shortage of timber. The company operates a sawmill on Prince of Wales Island, 600 miles north of Seattle, which is the last major sawmill in the Alaskan panhandle. Without access to Tongass timber, the facility will be forced to close, according to Kirk Dahlstrom, one of Viking’s owners.
Dahlstrom explained that a recent agreement with Alaska’s government to cut state-owned timber, along with ongoing logging jobs, may provide enough wood to keep the mill running through the winter months. However, he remains uncertain about the future supply of Sitka spruce beyond that period.
The closure of the sawmill would have devastating economic effects on the region. The town of Craig, with a population of around 1,000 residents, would suffer greatly. The mill employs approximately 45 people year-round, and many more workers, including truck drivers, barge pilots, and loggers, would lose their jobs if the operation shuts down.
This situation is not isolated. President Trump has advocated for increased timber harvests from federal forests as part of his broader push to boost domestic production of raw materials. He has also considered imposing tariffs on imported lumber, citing national security concerns. Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department has begun the process of rescinding the “roadless rule,” which limits road construction on federal lands and has hindered logging activities.
Regional Forest Service supervisors are also tasked with developing five-year plans to increase timber harvests by 25% on federal land. Despite these efforts, they do little to address Viking’s immediate challenges. According to Dahlstrom, a 25% increase in logging in the Tongass would barely make a dent in the company’s needs, equating to just a week’s worth of wood.
In recent years, Viking has relied on small federal timber sales but has not been offered a significant tract of land since 2016. That year, a forest management plan was adopted for the Tongass that projected much higher annual harvests than what has actually occurred. In March, Viking, along with a local logging company and the Alaska Forest Association, filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service, Agriculture Department, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, alleging that the government failed to meet the goals outlined in the 2016 plan.
Wood from old-growth forests is highly valued for its quality, but these ancient trees also play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Environmental groups, tribal organizations, and fishing interests have joined the legal battle, opposing large-scale logging of old-growth forests.
Despite being defendants in the case, federal agencies have publicly expressed support for Viking outside of court. A spokesperson for the Forest Service stated that the USDA remains committed to supporting locally based mills and responsible timber harvesting in the Tongass National Forest.
Kirk Dahlstrom’s journey into the logging industry began in 1978 when he and his brother built a sawmill in Washington state. They later expanded their operations to Alaska, where they found an abundance of old hemlocks and no northern spotted owls—environmentalists had previously used the Endangered Species Act to restrict logging in Washington, leading to a decline in timber production.
In Alaska, Viking began cutting Sitka spruce, a strong yet lightweight wood that was instrumental in early aviation and became a key material during World War I. Japanese buyers were among the first to purchase this wood, followed by Steinway & Sons. As other Alaskan mills closed, Viking became the primary supplier to Steinway, as well as a source for guitar makers, aviation firms, and the military.
Steinway’s spruce is transported to Washington for further processing before being shipped to New York, where it is used in the company’s piano manufacturing. Kyle Walters, director of manufacturing at Steinway, noted that the wood is the most expensive component in the pianos, which also include hard rock maple, poplar, and mahogany.
Although Steinway currently has enough spruce to maintain its production of about 1,000 pianos per year, the company is concerned about the long-term availability of the wood. CEO Ben Steiner has written to Alaska officials, urging them to support Viking’s continued operations.
Sitka spruce grows along the Pacific Coast, but the trees needed for Steinway’s pianos are specifically found in Alaska. The brief growing season in the region results in a tighter grain, which enhances the wood’s acoustic properties. According to Steiner, the spruce used by Steinway is among the top 1% of the top 1% available in the world.
