We arrive in Ketchikan at 11:00 am and leave at 7:00 pm.
There's lots to see here and we only have 8 hours. We'll get an early lunch on the ship and go for it at 11:00.
Southeast Alaska Discovery Center
50 Main Street
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Free with Senior Pass
Three totems greet you on the way in, representing Haida, Tlingit and Tsimshian cultures. Additional exhibits feature Alaska’s Rainforest, Native Traditions, Ecosystems and Natural Resources. Lots of interactive displays highlight the history of the area – including each of the industries that have been so critical to Ketchikan’s economy over the years: mining, fishing, timber, tourism and recreation.
Totem Bight State Park
9883 North Tongass Highway
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Hours 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
The HA excursion is titled - Totem Bight State Park & Ketchikan Highlights. Starting At $59.95
One of the outstanding structures at Totem Bight, a state historical park ten miles north of Ketchikan, is the replica of a Tlingit clan house – authentic down to the 4-foot height of its entrance (to deter invaders) and the hand-carved walls and floorboards. As you stoop to enter, the smell of red cedar greets you. Standing in the enclosed structure, you may wonder how 30-50 people could live here, or how long it must have taken to carve all the wood with an adze – a hand-tool made of hard stone and alder.
Totem Heritage Center
Open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily
Elders (65 & older): $5
601 Deermount St. ,Ketchikan, Alaska 99901
Look for the Downtown Shuttle for a ride to the center.
The Totem Heritage Center was set up in 1976 to preserve the traditions and culture of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people who once inhabited the land. The immersive center sheds light on the history and culture of these native American settlements, their art, and folklore. Tucked right next to the Totem Bight State Historical Park, the museum is home to 19th-century totem poles, old artifacts, and other findings that reflect the rich history of these settlements. It also houses a number of Tlingit carvings, emblems, baskets, and old photographs from the region, along with a library of books and archives.
Tongass Historical Museum
Open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily
Elders (65 & older): $5
629 Dock St., Ketchikan, Alaska 99901
Look for the Downtown Shuttle for a ride to the museum.
Tongass Historical Museum gives you an overview of the entire history of Ketchikan. Inside you will find interesting artefacts from the area, many photographs of people from the past and plenty of information about the town.
Right from the native inhabitants to prospectors. Then from the settlers and beyond until modern day living in Ketchikan today.
Exhibits include the various professions that made the town a popular place including salmon fishing, gold mining and logging.
Dolly's House on Creek Street
Admission $10 - Hours 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
24 Creek St, Creek St., Ketchikan, AK 99901-6508​
During Alaska’s pioneering days, every gold rush town had a red-light district; in Ketchikan, it was Creek Street. Prostitution wasn’t outlawed here until 1954, and it was legal as long as business wasn’t transacted on dry land. This explains why Creek Street isn’t a street at all, but an elevated boardwalk built on wooden pilings above Ketchikan Creek.
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At the height of its gold rush, Ketchikan’s red-light district on Creek Street held around 30 bordellos. Dolly Arthur was one of Ketchikan’s better-known madams before prostitution was outlawed; today her parlor and boudoir are preserved as a museum that's filled with memorabilia commemorating the roaring days of the early 20th century.
