The Beautiful and Fascinating Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan

Ketchikan stands out to me as one of the best places in Southeast Alaska to see, learn about and experience Tlingit indigenous culture, and the Totem Heritage Center is ideal for that. Located very near downtown Ketchikan (it’s walking distance from Creek Street), the Totem Heritage Center is very unique in its collection of totem poles and its delivery of the meaning and creation of totem poles. It’s a must-visit when you’re in Ketchikan. While a lot of people come into town on a cruise ship and tend to stay directly in the downtown core, it’s very much worth taking a walk on Married Man’s Trail around the hill to the Totem Heritage Center.

We’ve got the full scoop on what you’ll find here, tips for including it in your Ketchikan visit and more ideas for learning about Tlingit art and history when you’re visiting Ketchikan. If you have any questions about this museum or planning your time in Southeast Alaska, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a great Alaska trip!

Highlights of the Totem Heritage Center

I think most people are familiar with totem poles as an icon of the Tlingit peoples of Southeast Alaska, as well as of the Haida, Tsimshian, and other Salish nations. The Totem Heritage Center is one of the most unique museums featuring Tlingit poles and carvings, as it’s not simply the beautifully painted and preserved totem poles, but it’s full of very old totem poles that are hundreds of years old. Brought in from the elements for study and preservation, you can see examples of some really interesting work.

When totem poles are out in their intended environment, the weather over the years, eventually rotting and falling back to the ground, then called sleeping totem poles. It’s rare to get to see pieces like you’ll find at the Totem Heritage Center because most that are left in the elements decompose over time and go back into the earth. As you go through the museum here, you’ll see photos and videos all about the practices around creating totem poles and their history. Seeing pictures of some of the old Tlingit and Haida villages with countless totem poles in front of them and then seeing these antique poles frozen in a state of dissolving into the past is a fascinating opportunity to consider how colonialism in Alaska has impacted these communities and their cultures.

In addition to the wonderful old totem poles, there is a current Tlingit art exhibit as well. Formline art is so beautiful and the many examples on display showcase the diversity of both modern creation and formline usage in traditional pieces. The Totem Heritage Center is very much a worthwhile visit to plan for when you come to Ketchikan.

Tips for Visiting the Totem Heritage Center

While you’re here at the Totem Heritage Center be sure grab one of the scavenger hunt type guides to lead you through the exhibits. Although it’s not a traditional scavenger hunt, it was very helpful in keeping my youngest interested in actually reading the many exhibit placards. That’s always a struggle we have when we’re in learning spaces, like here or at the Alaska State Museum up in Juneau or Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. Using the guide to find different themes, animals, uses and stories is a good way to help kids (and adults) absorb more of the information while visiting the Totem Heritage Center.

I like that you can check out quite a few museums when you’re in Ketchikan, and if you want to save a few dollars you can actually purchase a museum pass that includes both the Totem Heritage Center and the Tongass Historical Museum. After you’re done here, head back down towards Creek Street and stop into the Tongass Historical Museum showing them your ticket (you’ll receive a pass for both) and then check out their exhibits. Both museums offer displays and information about Tlingit culture and history in the Ketchikan area, but they are quite different. Both are worth visiting.

Allow yourself an hour to enjoy the Totem Heritage Center. Between the exhibits and the film, and then checking out the few totem poles outside, you’ll be able to visit with plenty of time to enjoy more of Ketchikan.

Need to Know for the Totem Heritage Center

The Totem Heritage Center is a museum, so no food or drink please, but if you need to enjoy snacks before coming in, there are some outside benches to take advantage of. Since it’s an indoor museum, just dress for whatever the weather is for your walk to get here. There aren’t a lot of outdoor exhibits so you don’t really need to take outside time into consideration. For getting photos inside the Totem Heritage Center, a regular camera phone will do the trick. The light is very low within the Totem Heritage Center, and it’s not a large space, so you won’t be setting up a camera for shots inside. Really, this is an easy visit that’s great for learning and enjoying the historic totem poles from the Tlingit peoples of the Ketchikan area.

Getting to the Totem Heritage Center from the Cruise Port

There is street parking at the Totem Heritage Center if you happen to have a car with you. If you’re staying in town and don’t want to do the short walk, you can get a taxi or leverage your hotel shuttle if it has one. For all the rest of us, the walk from the Creek Street area and cruise ports of Ketchikan is pretty mellow. You’ll go along the Salmon Walk / Married Man’s Trail until you get to Park Avenue and the continue around the corner. It’s not difficult to find, but if you need to, be sure to plug it into your map app. From the Creek Street crossing, it’s about a fifteen minute walk to the Totem Heritage Center.

More Things to Do in Ketchikan

Ketchikan is such a cool town and it’s a wonderful place to explore for several days. If you’re only able to stop in for a little bit from a cruise ship, that’s fine too, but you’re going to want to come back and explore on your own in the future. What makes Ketchikan such a great town to visit is the combination of Alaska Native culture and all the elements that come to mind when you think of Alaska: salmon, mining, timber, landscapes. Ketchikan can be a wonderfully active town to visit or you can arrive and spend a few days relaxing.

As you plan your time in Ketchikan, think about how you want to mix up your activities. You can plan tours on the water or to visit different parts of Ketchikan to learn about Tlingit culture or nature. There are some walking tours to dig into the food scene or you can enjoy the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. Do you need a car when you come to town? No, not necessarily and downtown is very walkable, even beyond Creek Street, and there is a bus system that goes to some further away spots. A car is nice though, as that open you up to hiking and traveling around the island freely.

Here are are recommendations for things to do in Ketchikan:

Where to Stay in Ketchikan

If you’re lucky enough to get to spend several days in Ketchikan, there are some fun options for hotels around down town. For visitors with their own cars, you can consider something outside of the immediate downtown area and not need to worry about parking. I will say, there are some cool places to stay just off Creek Street, which puts you right in one of the most iconic Alaskan neighborhoods. You can even stay at the Cape Fox Lodge overlooking downtown and then take the funicular down to the main area. Some hotels in Ketchikan offer shuttle service between the hotel and downtown or the airport ferry terminal, so if you want to enjoy a more quiet stay, you can still easily get about town without a car.