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 

   

Alaska State Parks

     I'll bet you didn't know that the State of Alaska operates 139 state parks. You did? Good for you! They have divided the state into 7 sections each with several camp sites, they are,Chugach State Park(21sites), Northern(15sites), Kenai(35sites), Southwest(2sites), Kodiak(6sites), Mat-su/Copper River Basin(18sites) and Southeast with 42 sites. Now the sites will very from site to site, some will have rustic cabins with a wood stove, benches, bunks (no mattresses), table, chairs, and kitchen counter. Outside furnishings usually include a fireplace/grill, and latrine. Cooking stove, firewood, and drinking water are not provided. There is a rental fee for most sites, it ranges from $20-$70 per night depending on the night and the season. You may find more info by contacting the Alaska State Parks at, www.alaskastateparks.org.
I'm going to talk about a couple of the Alaska State Parks in the Southeast section, mainly because that's where I live and write about here at "K-townking",( maybe not as often as I should, it is fishing time!!!) . The first Alaska State Park is one that I highly recommend "Totem Bight State Park". This state park has been around since the 1938. It was developed using funds from the "Civilian Conservation Corps"(CCC). Older skilled Native carvers were hired for the project, two things took place: the younger artisan learned the art of carving totem poles, and totems left in the woods to go back to the earth were either repaired or duplicated.

   If your visiting Ketchikan on a cruise ship this is one of the places I recommend to all the tourist  who ask me "What is there to see?". You'll get some fresh air, exercise, and learn something all in one Great park. There are 15 totem poles in the park and a clan house, which is an amazing building its self. One of the reasons I recommend and enjoy "Totem Bight" is its location. It was developed on a site were Natives once come to spend the summer. They would harvest the foliage, fish and other foods of the area. You can get the feel of what once was, I do. So, when your visiting K-town be sure to find a way to "Totem Bight Alaska State Park", you'll enjoy it!

Hope to See Ya in K-town,

  K-townKing