Ketchikan, Alaska - 1 of 2

Ketchikan is the first city you reach cruising North to Alaska (only 90 miles from Prince Rupert, Canada) and often everyone’s introduction to the 49th State, with a current population of 8,192. The Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people lived here for over 10,000 years and their arts, culture and history is all over Ketchikan. Ketchikan is the third-wettest city in the United States and receives 261% more rain than the national average. The area became a supply center for miners during the gold rush of the 1890s.

It started as a salmon cannery site in 1885 and eventually grew to have 17 canning factories (unfortunately, now down to 3). There was still plenty of places selling salmon in town and many many stores selling anything you can imagine from artwork, souvenirs, clothes, jewelry and food.

Ketchikan has the largest number of totems in Alaska with some of them up to 100 years old. In the past, we’ve been to the Totem Heritage Center, Totem Bight State Park, and Saxman Totem Park.to see their collections of Native artifacts but we still enjoyed walking around and visited many of the totems around the harbor.

We visited a new, quieter end of Creek street. Creek street the quaint area built on stilts over Ketchikan Creek winds up and down the creek in a beautiful way around in 1930 buildings with many little stores and of course, Dollys (the parlor of the city's most famous madam, Dolly Arthur).

This was our 5th trip to Ketchikan. We always enjoy the creek and today was extra special because even though there were crowds (6 ships in port) we fund new areas to walk and enjoy on a day with perfect weather in the low 70’s and sunshine – not a normal day here.

We also walked the waterfront promenade through Harbor View Park, the cruise ship docks, and then the harbor. In and out of a few stores but mostly enjoying the atmosphere of Ketchikan , the weather and beautiful surrounding scenery.Read more