Visitor Center located at 131 Front Street, on Berth 2 dock and at Berth 3 (seasonal), Copyright 2023 Ketchikan Visitors Bureau, Mailing/Admin office address: 50 Front St., Suite 203 Ketchikan, AK 99901, Visitor Center located at 131 Front Street, on Berth 2 dock and at Berth 3 (seasonal), Marine Services and Freight Transportation. In 2018, Ketchikan Harbour saw 40 different cruise ships making more than 500 stops in the harbour and bringing more than 1,073,000 visitors to Ketchikan. The city is also well-known for its salmonit is the Salmon Capital of the World, after all. Ketchikan | Alaska, United States | Britannica Or take in an old-fashioned logging competition between burly lumberjacks. . From Anchorage it will take a few hours, often with a connection in Juneau. Southeast Alaska. Learn more about weather in this area. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority serves Ketchikan with daily service from its homeport in Hollis on Prince of Wales Island.[37]. The current city mayor is Dave Kiffer who was elected in 2021. Go-Alaska.net, part of The Go Travel Sites family, is among the largest websites covering travel and vacationing in Alaska. Visit Ketchikan Alaska - About Legendary Madam Dolly was one. Ketchikan, a popular Inside Passage cruise stop, is known for its vibrant downtown, historical tours, and Alaska Native roots. Ketchikan, the small port city located on Revillagigedo Island is known as Alaska's "First City" and the "Salmon Capital of the World". [51] The National Geographic Channel series Alaska Wing Men in the episode "Fatal Crash"[52] follows a National Transportation Safety Board investigator's site visit of a July 2010 bush pilot fatal crash near Ketchikan.[53]. Ketchikan Museums | Ketchikan Alaska The Tongass Historical Museum houses a permanent collection of local artifacts that tell the story of Ketchikan's fascinating history, including Alaska Native artwork, historical photos, and artifacts from the industries that have played a significant role in the area's development. In 2018, Robert Sivertsen replaced Lew Williams III, who had served as mayor or councilmember for 28 years, as mayor[25] of the City of Ketchikan. Ketchikan is represented in the Alaska Senate by Bert Stedman, who lives in Sitka, and in the Alaska House of Representatives by independent Dan Ortiz, a former schoolteacher who taught at Ketchikan High School. The Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people have lived in southeastern Alaska for over 10,000 years, and their arts, culture, and history can be seen throughout Ketchikan. Ketchikan is often called the "Gateway to Southeast Alaska" as it is the southernmost city on the Inside Passage. If you prefer to leave the fish in the water, kayakingis a beautiful, quiet way to see Southeast Alaska and there are many places to book kayaking tours around town. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15.3km2). In addition to our work marketing our community, we provide visitor information assistance at our visitor center downtown (a second center operates May through September) at Ketchikan International Airport and the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry terminal. Venture into the Tongass National Forest to see millions of fish race upstream to spawn. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Ferry passengers can walk on or board with their car or RV. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. Winner of seven regional Emmys and three national Telly awards, the Ketchikan Story Project chronicles the life and times of Alaska's First City. The KVB is a nonprofit organization founded by Ketchikan residents in 1976, one of the first visitor bureaus organized in Alaska. The most rainfall in one month was 53.85 inches (1,368mm) during November 1917 and the most rainfall in 24 hours was 8.71 inches (221mm) on October 11, 1977. Top Things You'll Love To Do Ketchikan, Alaska From The Cruise Ship Summers are mild, as August's temperature averages 59.0F (15.0C) with an average daytime high of 64.7F (18.2C) and an overnight low of 53.3F (11.8C). Ten miles north of Ketchikan is Totem Bight State Historical Park, an 11-acre park that is packed with restored and re-carved totems as well as a colorful community house. The Totem Heritage Center is near the City Park and about a mile or so from downtown. A short walk from downtown Ketchikan is Totem Heritage Center, established in 1976 to preserve 19th century totem poles retrieved from uninhabited Tlingit and Haida village sites nearby. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. #alaska #ketchikan #royalcaribbean #cruise #travelpostcovid #travelwithftc #seattle, Went hiking and saw this bear getting his dinner to go #Alaska #AlaskaLife #Ketchikan #Bear #ToGo #Hiking #SettlersCove, Top 5 PLACES in the US to visit TOTEM POLES. Totem Heritage Center & Totem Bight State Historical Park As the oldest gallery in Alaska, the Scanlon Gallery has a long history of supporting and featuring local talent. Located at the southern tip of the Inside Passage, Ketchikan is considered one of the gateways into this famed Alaskan region, which travels between Puget Sound and the Gulf of Alaska. 23-1966 regarding the City of Ketchikan seasonal sales tax that will be effective starting on April 1, 2023 as well as Frequently Asked Questions. Scattered throughout the park are 24 totem poles moved from abandoned villages around the Inside Passage during the 1930s and restored or re-carved. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. The figures found on these poles include the raven (a symbol of the Creator), the killer whale (a symbol of strength), the eagle (representing peace and friendship), the Thunderbird, the bear, the wolf, the beaver, and the frog. 12 Essential Things to Do in Ketchikan, Alaska - Scenic States Ketchikan travel - Lonely Planet | Alaska, USA, North America Thank you, Ketchikan! Inside youre guided through the brothel, hear about Dollys intriguing life in Alaska, and see, among other things, its bar, which was placed over a trapdoor to the creek for quick disposal of bootleg whiskey. . Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. Visitors can learn about Tlingit culture through songs, dances,and stories. Credit Union 1, 2000 Tongass Ave, Ketchikan, AK, Atm Sales & Service Both museums offer an engaging educational experience. Cruise ships often stop over in Ketchikan as either the first or last port of call on Alaska cruises. Numerous lodges and resorts are located along Tongass Narrows and cater to visiting anglers. Yes, men came here to work in lumber and fishing, but a few enterprising and bold women made the Last Frontier more hospitable, so those men would stay. When it comes to cruising in Alaska, youll be spoiled for choice as no other state has more coastline to explore. [22], In 2017, the ACS-estimated median and average annual incomes for a household in the city were $56,372 and $70,490, respectively. Although salmon fishing is king in the summer months, halibut fishing is also popular. The township began with Mike Martins purchase of 160 acres from Chief Kyan in 1885. Blue glacial lakes, tall waterfalls, and snowcapped peaks surround visitors to the Mistys. Big ship or small ship? You might be visiting Ketchikan on an Alaska Cruise, where you'll have the difficult choice of choosing just one or two shore excursions while you're in port. Here in the First City we've got the most historic properties out of any community in Alaska, so there's a lot to look at during your visit! Its picturesque and chock-full of great shopping check out Soho Coho, Niblicks General Store, and Ketchikan Dry Goods for a great selection of Alaska art and gifts and maybe even some Foraged & Found goodies. The median and average incomes for a family were $68,438 and $84,518, respectively. Climate Normals Quick Access Station: Ketchikan INTL AP, AK", "Report on Population and Resources of Alaska at the Eleventh Census: 1890", "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Ketchikan city, Alaska", "Ketchikan (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau", "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Ketchikan city, Alaska", "Selected Economic Characteristics: 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Ketchikan city, Alaska", "Ketchikan city, borough election results certified - KRBD", "Visit Ketchikan Alaska - Visitor Statistics", HR 987, 101st Congress, Tongass Timber Reform Act, "#123 Ketchikan Pulp Co. Sitka National Historical Park - only national park dedicated to totem poles Another Ketchikan native, Terry Gardiner, was notable as the youngest person elected to the Alaska House of Representatives (at age 22), as well as the youngest person elected Speaker of the House (at age 28). Ketchikan has its own unique charm. Saxman Totem Park Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Just as impressive as the totems are the park's lush rainforest setting and the rocky coastline along Tongass Narrows. [31], In 1996, following the Clinton Administration's refusal to reinstate the original terms of KPC's timber contract, Louisiana-Pacific Corp. announced it would be shutting down the pulp mill, and did so in March 1997. The Ketchikan Visitors Bureau provides maps at its convenient location on the waterfront across the street from the historic "Welcome to Ketchikan" sign, the original of which first arched over Mission Street in the 1920s. Photo Credit: Mark Nakamura. If you're visiting independently, you'll see there's enough to see and do to last several days! Unique to each tribe, totem poles represent historical events and typically tell stories of the local native people. Ketchikan has a mild maritime or oceanic climate, characterized by heavy cloud cover and high humidity through much of the year and abundant rainfall throughout the year (even in the driest month), earning it the nickname of the "Rain Capital of Alaska". Visit Ketchikan: 2023 Travel Guide for Ketchikan, Alaska | Expedia Ketchikan, Alaska, is truly the beginning of the last frontier. Most of the totems at Saxman Totem Park and Totem Bight State Park are recarvings of older poles, a practice that began during the Roosevelt Administration through the Civilian Conservation Corps. Ketchikan serves as both an air and marine transportation hub for southern Southeast Alaska. #wynnaroundtheworld #adventure #travelblogger #utah #blogger #adventure #hiking #theinfluencerbootcamp #wunderlust #southernalaska #bucketlist #historytravel #ketchikan #klawock #princeofwales #saxmantotempark #kerchikantotempark #sitka #sitkanationalpark #travelalaska #alaskatotempoles #alaskatotempark #totembightstatehostoricalpark #history #mckinleyville #sitkanationalhistoricalpark #totemheritagecenter, My happy place [17] It returned as Ketchikan beginning in 1900 and in every successive census. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. This is your chance to earn some serious lifetime bragging rights, because really how many people do you know that would go snorkeling in Alaska? Totem poles are sculptures carved typically from Western Red Cedar or other large trees. Where will your Alaska adventure take you? From fly-out fishing lodges in the backcountry to saltwater charters to roadside pull-offs, Alaska offers fishing opportunities for every budget level and itinerary. Day cruises let passengers glide through Ketchikan's scenic waters with views of nearby . Ketchikan is positioned 55.35 dergees north of the equator and 131.65 degrees west of the prime meridian. Residents tell stories of our fishing, aviation and timber industries, share our arts and Native culture, and offer insights into local history.