Totem Bight State Historical Park, Ketchikan (must see)

Totem Bight State Historical Park, located just ten miles north of Ketchikan, is a captivating tribute to the indigenous cultures of Southeast Alaska. Nestled in a lush temperate rainforest along the rocky coastline of Tongass Narrows, this 33-acre park preserves a significant piece of Alaska Native heritage. At the heart of the park stands a replica of a traditional Tlingit clan house-complete with a four-foot-high oval entrance meant to deter invaders. Inside, the large communal space includes a central fireplace and hand-carved cedar house posts by artist Charles Brown of Saxman, showcasing the artistry and communal lifestyle of the people who once lived in similar structures with up to 50 relatives.

Surrounding the clan house are 14 towering totem poles, each one a “silent storyteller” conveying clan histories, legends, and ancestral values. Originally carved in the 19th century, many of the totems had been left behind when Native communities moved into larger towns for work opportunities. In 1938, the U.S. Forest Service launched a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) project to salvage these cultural treasures. Skilled Haida and Tlingit carvers were hired to restore or replicate the poles using traditional tools like adzes and recreated paints made from natural materials such as lichen, clam shells, and copper.

Declared a historic site in 1970 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Totem Bight offers visitors an immersive experience in Native Alaskan history and art. The forested trails and coastal vistas complement the cultural journey, with interpretive signs guiding visitors through the meaning behind each pole.