Ketchikan, Alaska

Creek Street, Ketchikan

Ketchikan is a busy waterside community backed by forested hills and surrounded by a waterway that hums with floatplanes, fishing boats, ferries and large cruise ships. Kechikan is known for its unique picturesque beauty. The town is built along one road,Tongass Avenue, which runs along the shores of Tongass Narrows and sometimes over it, supported by pillars. Many businesses and homes are suspended above the water or cling to the hillside and have winding staircases or wooden streets leading to their front doors. To the south is the distinctively shaped Deer Mountain.

Visitors to Ketchikan can enjoy many activities such as sightseeing around town, flightseeing by floatplane, cruise tours, as well as wildlife viewing, hiking, fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities.

Alaska Native Culture in Ketchikan

Native art and culture flourishes here due to the large population of Alaska natives. Ketchikan is home to the world’s largest collection of totem poles, timeless monuments in cedar from the first Alaskans.

Saxman Tribal House and at the Metlakatla Long House Native bring Alaska Native dance alive with regular performances by skilled groups, just minutes from Ketchikan.

Saxman Village is just two miles south of Ketchikan. The village has the single largest collection of totems. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, carvers and their apprentices can be viewed sculpting poles, canoes, paddles and masks.

Totem Bight State Park is in a beautiful cove eight miles north of Ketchikan is  , where an historic collection of totems and a native community house can be visited.

Totem Heritage Center displays a large collection of original poles retrieved from abandoned village sites and hosts classes teaching traditional art forms like weaving and regalia making.

The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center houses contemporary totem poles, examples of native basketry and other crafts and a traditional Native fish camp exhibit.

Throughout Ketchikan, totems are on display at public parks and even local residences. Several local art galleries specialize in authentic Alaska native art, from miniature totems and hand woven basketry, to carved silver, fabric art and original drawings and paintings.

Parks and Public Lands

Ketchikan is the gateway to the Misty Fjords National Monument and is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest. Local cruise tours and flightseeing tours are available to view these beautiful lands of mountains, fjords, and forest that are teeming with wildlife.

Access: Daily scheduled jet service from Seattle, Anchorage, Juneau and many Inside Passage communities. Charter air from most other Inside Passage communities. Alaska State Ferry from Bellingham, WA, Prince Rupert, B.C., and all mainline Inside Passage communities. All classes of cruise vessels. Daily Inter-island ferry between Ketchikan and Prince of Wales Island. No road access.

Location: Ketchikan is located on the southwestern coast of Revillagigedo Island, opposite Gravina Island, near the southern boundary of Alaska. It is 1,086 km north of Seattle and 376 km south of Juneau. Ketchikan is the first Alaska port of call for northbound cruise ships and Alaska State ferries.

Population: 7,685 (Ketchikan Borough - 13,125).

Accommodations: Eight hotels/motels (380 rooms), 20 bed and breakfasts, one hostel, 23 dining establishments. Extensive shopping in downtown.

External Link: Ketchikan Visitors Bureau official website.