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Historic site · Ketchikan, Alaska
Totem Bight State Historical Park
A seaside state park north of Ketchikan, with 15 totem poles and a Tlingit clan house amid the forest, carved by native carvers as reproductions from old pieces that were deteriorating in abandoned villages.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Totem Bight State Historical Park
Totem Bight State Historical Park sits on a headland on the Tongass Narrows about 16 km north of downtown Ketchikan. It was created by a U.S. government program in the late 1930s that hired older native carvers to restore or copy old totems abandoned in regional villages before they were lost to moisture.
The park collects 15 totem poles, most replicas of 19th-century Tlingit and Haida pieces. Each tells clan stories of animals and mythical beings such as the raven, the eagle, the bear and the whale. Signs along the path explain the meaning of the figures.
At the center, a clan house with a façade painted with a stylized raven reproduces traditional dwellings: a low oval entrance, a square interior with a central hearth and carved house posts. The house’s sculptures were made by Charles Brown, a Tlingit carver from Saxman.
A short trail through cedar and spruce forest runs from the parking lot to the totems and the beach.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour.
Best time
In the morning, before tour buses arrive. On rainy days, common in Ketchikan, the surrounding wet forest enhances the colors of the totems.
How to get there
Follow North Tongass Highway, about 16 km north of downtown Ketchikan, roughly a 20‑minute drive. There are local buses and excursions from the harbor. Check the state parks website to see if there is a user fee that day.
Tip
Combine the visit with the Totem Heritage Center in downtown Ketchikan, which houses original 19th-century totems rescued from villages.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Totem Bight State Historical Park
How many totems are at Totem Bight?
Fifteen, mostly replicas of 19th-century Tlingit and Haida pieces, plus a clan house.
How far is Totem Bight from Ketchikan?
About 16 km north of downtown, roughly a 20-minute drive.
Are the totems at Totem Bight original?
Most are replicas carved by native carvers from old pieces that were deteriorating in abandoned villages.