Ketchikan
City Information
Overview
Ketchikan is
located on Revillagigedo Island and is a very
picturesque town. It stretches along the coast
of the Tongass Narrows and many of its
businesses and homes are suspended above the
water or cling to the hillside. Winding
staircases or wooden streets lead to the front
doors. Ketchikan has a lively downtown area and
is surrounded by a waterway that seems always
busy with floatplanes, fishing boats, ferries
and large cruise ships. It is the gateway to
beautiful Misty Fjords National Monument.
Attractions in
Ketchikan
Creek Street
is one of the most famous attractions in
Ketchikan. Creek Street is actually a boardwalk
built on wooden pilings. During the prohibition
era, it was a famous red-light district with up
to 30 brothels. In 1954, the brothels were
declared illegal and had to be shut down. One
especially famous brothel is Dolly's House, the
parlor of the city's most famous madam, Dolly
Arthur. The former business is now a museum
dedicated to this infamous era. There are about
20 buildings on Creek Street with a few small
shops and a restaurant.
Dependant on
the season, salmon may be spawning in Ketchikan
Creek and can be watched as they swim up
Ketchikan Creek beneath the pilings.
Three huge
totems welcome visitors to the Southeast Alaska
Visitor Center, which provides a wealth of
information about the region.
The Totem
Heritage Center stores and showcases totem poles
from various locations in Southeast Alaska.
Here, totem poles salvaged from deserted Tlingit
communities are gathered and restored to their
original condition. The collection totals more
than 30, the largest in Alaska.
The Deer
Mountain Hatchery provides valuable information
about the life cycle of salmon. Additionally,
Alaska Native dancers perform daily and samples
of smoked salmon are offered to visitors.
A beautiful
walk leads past the fish ladder at Ketchikan
Creek's falls, where the salmon leap against the
current during the summer to spawn. Near the
bridge starts “Married Man's Trail”, a scenic
boardwalk that connects back to Creek Street.
The waterfront
is a beautiful area to stroll along the shores
of the Tongass Narrows. Departing and arriving
floatplanes and fishing fleets keep the area
busy and colorful
Attractions
around Ketchikan
Ketchikan is
the gateway to world-famous Misty Fjords
National Monument. Popular options for visiting
this magnificent area include a boat tour or a
flightseeing tour.
There are
many good hiking options around Ketchikan. The
majority are either out of town or the trailhead
must be reached by boat. The 3.1-mile Deer
Mountain Trail, however, begins near the city
center. The trail is well maintained and is a
great way to experience nature. The U.S. Forest
Service located in Ketchikan has information on
hiking trails, cabin reservations and other
outdoor opportunities.
History
Originally,
natives had established a fish camp at Ketchikan
Creek, which meant creek of the "thundering
wings of an eagle." The abundant fish and timber
resources attracted non-Natives to Ketchikan. In
1885, Mike Martin bought 160 acres from Chief
Kyan, which later became the township. In 1886,
the first cannery opened near the mouth of
Ketchikan Creek; by 1912, four more canneries
had been built. In 1892. the Ketchikan Post
Office was established. . In the late 1890s,
nearby gold and copper discoveries brought
activity to Ketchikan as a mining supply center.
By 1936,
seven canneries were in operation, producing 1.5
million cases of salmon. In 1903, the Ketchikan
Spruce Mills opened to satisfy the need for
lumber, which was needed for new construction
and packing boxes. During World War II,
spruce was in high demand and Ketchikan became a
supply center for logging. A $55 million
pulp mill was constructed at Ward Cove near
Ketchikan in 1954. Its operation fueled
the growth of the community. The mill's 50-year
contract with the U.S. Forest service for timber
was canceled, and the pulp mill closed in March
1997.
Other
Information
Population: 7,685
(Ketchikan Borough - 13,125)
Location: Ketchikan
is located on the southwestern coast of
Revillagigedo Island, opposite Gravina Island,
near the southern boundary of Alaska. It is 679
miles north of Seattle and 235 miles south of
Juneau. The 2.2 million acre Misty Fiords
National Monument lies 22 air miles east of
Ketchikan. It is the first Alaska port of call
for northbound cruise ships and Alaska State
ferries.
Access: Daily
scheduled jet service from Seattle, Anchorage,
Juneau and many Inside Passage communities.
Charter air from most other Inside Passage
communities. Alaska State Ferry from Bellingham,
WA, Prince Rupert, B.C., and all mainline Inside
Passage communities. All classes of cruise
vessels. Daily Inter-island ferry between
Ketchikan and Prince of Wales Island. No road
access.
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