Ketchikan Historic Park or Site
Immerse yourself in Ketchikan’s rich history as you visit the city’s captivating historical parks and sites. Explore the Totem Heritage Center, where you can admire intricate totem poles, or the Tongass Historical Museum, which showcases the region’s unique past. Engage with knowledgeable guides, stroll through beautifully restored structures, and gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural legacy of this Alaskan city.
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Historic Park or Site
The art of totem pole carving was a luxury that experienced its heyday in the mid-1700s to the late 1800s. The fur trade had provided the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples a newfound sense of wealth – and time to focus on the artistry of the totem
Nearly a century ago in 1903, this was the small mining and fishing town’s red-light district but today the boardwalk street, propped up over Ketchikan Creek on wooden pilings, teems with gift shops, museums and well-preserved homes.
Seeing what the glaciers left behind is as stunning as viewing the glaciers themselves. Imagine the force it took to carve U‑shaped valleys with 3,000-foot sheer cliffs rising above the water (not to mention that they extend another 1000-feet below water!)