K-town's Totems

Chief Kayan Pole In Whale Park

 Ketchikan is home to a large collection of totem poles both original and replicas. Totems played a very large part in the local Native culture of Southeast Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Ketchikan is fortunate to have three tribes of natives in and around the Ketchikan area. They are, the Tlingit, the Haida and the Tsimshian and each have their own unique styles and technics for their art.

 

There are individual totem poles scattered all around downtown Ketchikan, but there are 3 parks that have great collections of replica totems and the Totem Heritage Center has a display of original totem poles and pieces of poles in their museum. The Heritage Center is in the city and all the totem parks are outside the city.  

There are 2 totem parks located about 10 miles north of K-town. The most popular is an Alaska State Park, Totem Bight State Historical Park. This park was created back in the 1930's and was constructed by the CCC(Civilian Conservation Corps)  boys. They were mostly local Native carvers and craftsmen. The park is a replica of a 18th century Tlingit clan village and consists of a clan house and about a dozen totem poles.
Right next door to Totem Bight is a newer park which is also quite impressive. It's the Potlatch Park and it has a carving shed, where you might catch a master carver working his magic, and Russian Museum. Both of these parks would make a great excursion when you are visiting Ketchikan.

Totem Bight Clan House

The 3rd totem park is located 2 1/2 miles south of K-town and is in the City of Saxman. This park is run by the city and there is a fee to view the park. The park is well cared for and the totems are kept up nicely. There are around 15 poles within the park and they have a small collection of pictographs, which are cool. 

Winter on Totem Row Saxman

So if you have an interest in totem poles and the many tales and stories they tell, be sure to visit one or all 4 of the totem exhibits on your visit to Ketchikan.

Till Next Time,

K-townKing