"Ketchikan" thought to be derived from a Tlingit word meaning "the thundering wings of an eagle"
Even the dogs were hot during this heat wave--true "dog days"
Raven stealing the sun totem
Creek Street, built on pilings above Ketchikan Creek, is a wooden boardwalk, and was until 1953, the red light district. Locals used to say that Creek Street was the spot where "both fish and fisherman went upstream to spawn." It is now full of galleries and shops.
"Married Man's Trail" where the men who had visited establishments like "Dolly's House" could take a back way home!
Black bear seen long distance at Herring Cove, outside of Ketchikan, fishing for salmon
I believe these are a sampling of the king salmon (chinook) in their journey upstream to spawn, and then die.
Saxman Totem Park--a collection of totem poles (24) brought here from abandoned villages. Some were repaired and restored, and others completely replicated. This process continues today.
Replica of the original Lincoln pole. Carving was erected on Tongass Island in 1883 to commemorate the clan's first sighting of a white man many years prior. The only photo available of a white man was that of President Lincoln. The carver didn't realize his height and made his legs too short!
This is Loon
Tree. It represents the story of Kats, who married a she-bear that appeared to
him in human form and was ultimately killed by their cub-children. Kats'
bear wife is at the bottom of the pole, holding the human figure of Kats between
her front paws. Each totem pole tells a story or commemorates an event.
Shame poles were raised on the property of those who were felt to deserve them.
Some say that Ketchikan is 3 miles long and 3 blocks wide. The mountains come so close to the water that there's only a narrow strip of land on which to build, so the houses appear on top of one another. Many streets are boardwalk and steps like below.
Music by Ray Troll and the Ratfush Wranglers, "Where the Fins Meet the Frets"
Ray Troll is a Ketchikan artist.
"Spawn 'Til You Die"
Ever since I was a small fry, all I've wanted to do is get into a stream and
swim right up to you; I want your love babe, I want your love
I've got a one way ticket right on up to your shore; Let me in baby, please
don't lock the door; It's my biology babe, it's in my genes
Some people say there's lots of fish in the sea; I think they're right cuz
there's one there for me; Don't slip away honey, don't cut that line
Now one of these days, I'm gonna grow me a snout; Grow a humpback baby and check
things out; That's my destiny sugar, my fate to be.
Spawn, spawn, spawn 'til you die babe; Spawn, spawn, spawn 'til you die babe
Now when you lay those eggs it really turns me on; I wanna spill my milt until
the break of dawn; Let's have some fun darlin' all night long.
Oh when you flip those fins and you shake that little tail; When you dig that
bed, I hope my engine don't fail; Don't let me down, don't swim away.
Yeah, I'd swim a hundred miles, I always love to travel; I'd go a thousand more
just to get you in the gravel. My love is strong, you know it is.
And when my number is up and it's time to meet my maker, I'll be spawning up in
heaven with Jim and Tammy Baker; Up in the sky, in the great beyond
Spawn, spawn, spawn 'til you die babe; Spawn, spawn, spawn 'til you die babe
A Slide Show Video of our July 23-30 trip aboard the Alaska Sea Adventurer