Ketchikan is a neat little town. It is the rainiest part of Alaska averaging over 300 inches each year. It is an island and mostly rock.
We took advantage of the stay in Ketchikan and did some more touring. The first show we went to was the logging show. It is a real tourist entertainment show just for all the cruise ship passengers. But it was fun to see these men show off their logging skills.
I just had to get a picture of me with these rough, tough guys!
After a quick lunch of fish and chips we went on our second tour of the day. And did we pick a perfect day, no rain and lots of sunshine. This tour took us to the Potlatch Totem Park. Our guide Matt was a very good story teller and he explained each totem pole story. The park was a short drive and along the way he told us about living in Ketchikan all year.
These are all newer totem poles, but still they each tell a story. The birds you see are mostly Ravens, then there is the beaver and owl and different people that the legends are telling the story about.
This totem pole below is not from any tribe. When the Disney Cruise Lines decided to make Ketchikan a stop, two of these sea monster poles were erected. The children that visit the park are given a piece of wood to paint, and those pieces are then attached to the sea monster as scales. Each child that does an art piece is sent a picture of where their piece is attached to the totem pole. There are two of them, and they still have a lot of scales to be attached. I think that is a great idea!
After walking around the park, Matt then took us into a replica building of how the native people would have lived in during the winter. These buildings would have been portable, using pegs to join them together so they could be moved to where the hunting and fishing were good.
The outside of the building and the inside of the buildings were decorated. The outside decorations would represent which tribe lived there. The one we were in represented the Raven tribe. The lower right hand corner picture shows the entrance through the totem’s belly. Had to be very small to get through, so as to keep the warmth inside. The entire tribe slept inside during the winter months.
We then went through the workshop where we saw a totem pole in progress. It takes about two years to carve a story pole. The artists use the same tools that the natives would have used.
The people who own the park have an antique automobile collection, they even have one hanging in the gift shop.
Everywhere we went there is a gift shop, but this one offered us hot cocoa and cookies. He even had an antique room where he had a Gatling Gun and lots of other collectibles. Remember Ketchikan is an island and everything comes in on a barge. This was an amazing collection.
As we are walking along the paths I took a picture of one of the posts. It has grass and plants growing on the top of it. Lots of rain will do that!
On our way back to the dock, Matt drove us through the town and told us about it being built on solid rock. So a couple of the streets aren’t really streets, but steps. Some of them are 300 steps high. Can you imagine getting your groceries to your house in the winter? Matt said where he lives he only has 75 steps! Good thing he is young. Wonder how they get furniture into those houses?
The end of a wonderful day and we head back to the ship for dinner and a show.
All our dinners were great, lots of good food and wonderful service.
The comedian was great, and made a lot of fun of our stay in Ketchikan. Said he was handing out voter registrations for us! The singer, impersonator was very good and the Celebrity dancers put on two great shows.
Our last day aboard the ship, Aug 21. Tomorrow we will be evacuated. The weather says 50% chance of rain. That means it will rain half the day!
We take our chances in the morning and do some walking tour on our own. We wanted to check out Creek Street, the notorious red light district of old Ketchikan. We are lucky and it is not raining, so get to take a leisurely walk and read about the history.
There is a “married man’s trail” leading down from the homes on the hill to Creek Street. Hummm
While walking along the street I took pictures of some of the plants. Not sure what they are, but thought they were pretty.
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