Alaska Cruise - Ketchikan

Our third port was Ketchikan. We pulled in early the morning of June 11th, I believe we were supposed to be docked by 7 am. Like all Alaska 'cities', it's pretty small, but spread out along the channel as it gets too steep to build very quickly away from the water. Floatplanes are also much in evidence, and we passed several floatplane bases like this one.

Parts of the town also have a distinctly semi-industrial feel, as fish-packing is still a big industry. It was cloudy and windy.

We took a tour out to Totem Bight State Park. During the Depression, the Forest Service used CCC money to hire Native carvers to reproduce many old totem poles from abandoned Native villages. This helped preserve the culture, and helped train younger carvers.

They also built a replica clan house, using the same materials and methods.

More Ketchikan photos here.