Totem Bight State Park, Ketchikan, Alaska
June 2016: Totem Bight State Park, Ketchikan, Alaska
A bight is a shallow bay formed by a bend in a coastline. Natives favored bights for village sites since they are often protected from fierce weather and have sandy beaches good for landing canoes.
Totem Bight was formerly called Mud Bight. It got its new name after the Civilian Conservation Corps project created the totem park in the 1930s and 40s.
Totem Bight State Historical Park exhibits totem poles and a clan house typical of three Native groups: Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. These three groups were unique as they incorporated their distinctive art into totem poles.
The U.S. Forest Service, in cooperation with Native organizations, began an Civilian Conservation Corps project in the 1930s to salvage and reconstruct totem poles and clan houses. They brought original poles found deteriorating at traditional village to this site. Native artists carved new poles based on the original designs. Work began in 1938, under the tutelage of Tlingit carver Charles Brown and Haida carver John Wallace. They built a clan house and carved fourteen totem poles before Word War II interrupted the project.
Decay resistant cedar is the wood of choice for canoes, bentwood boxes, houses, and totem poles. Totem poles are made of cedar trees from deep in the forest where they grow tall and straight while competing for sunlight. Red cedar is the most valued. The soft and straight-grained cedar is easy to work.
Ketchikan, AK. Totem Bight Park tour
The first people of Alaska have carved totem poles as part of their culture. The meanings and interpretation of the poles are included. The house shown is built the way Tlingit and Haida people have built it to house many families in one roof. The Totem Pole is the part of the house architecture. The Totem Bight park is full of wildlife and plants; berries: blueberries, huckleberries, salmon berries and large mossy trees. The body of water surrounding the park is clear and pristine. Bold Eagles are frequently seen in the park. There is coal in the crevices of the wooden ground at the beach of the park.
The cruise charges you more than $30 for this tour, plus the Creek street, but you can take the silver line bus to the park for $2 round-trip per person at this time and $1 for adults (50c) per ride. The silver line replaced the blue line. Just cross the street if you are traveling with a cruise line and you'll find the bus stop.
The ride takes about 20 minutes or less. The bus returns in an hour. Take an information booklet from the visitor center at the street before the park. The park does not have bathrooms in it, but the visitor information center has a bathroom near by. While there, also visit the park next to Totem Pole Bight Park. How to get a cheaper tour to Totem Pole Bight Park and the park views by BeautyHealthTravel Channel
Totem Bight State Park - Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
- Created at TripWow by TravelPod Attractions (a TripAdvisor™ company)
Totem Bight State Park Ketchikan
Read more at:
Travel blogs from Totem Bight State Park:
- ... We went to Totem Bight State Park where we viewed totem poles and the surrounding bay ...
Read these blogs and more at:
Photos from:
- Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
Photos in this video:
- Clan House at Totem Bight State Park by Eagle46 from a blog titled On the Ferry
- Totem Pole in Totem Bight State Park by Catty from a blog titled Ketchikan
- Totem Bight State Park by Luvntravln from a blog titled Ketchikan
Ketchikan: Totem Bight State Historical Park - Totem Pole
Read about my Alaska Trip here -
Totem Bight State Park & Ketchikan Highlights
Begin your journey with a scenic drive along the Tongass Narrows enroute to Totem Bight State Park, home to one of the world's largest stand of totems. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Tongass National Rainforest as you stroll under the canopy of majestic hemlock and cedar trees. Through lively stories and narrative you'll learn about the culture and lifestyle practiced by the Northwest Coastal Natives. You'll also have an opportunity to visit a traditional Native clan house to see how they lived first hand. Prior to departing the park, you'll have a chance to photograph a magnificent collection of totem poles in a picturesque setting. During your brief stop at the quaint Alaska Totem Trading store you'll have an opportunity to shop and admire beautifully carved totems along with a collection of vintage automobiles and guns. While travelling back to the pier, enjoy an entertaining city tour and learn of the industries which built Ketchikan and helped to make it the Salmon Capital of the World. You may opt to disembark at Ketchikan's historic red-light district, Creek Street, or return to your ship.
Alaska, USA - 26 of 28 - Ketchikan - Totem Bight State Park
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE:
SEE MORE OF MY VIDEOS FROM ALASKA BELOW: ↓↓↓
Follow Me:
Videos:
Pictures:
Blog:
If you enjoyed this video, please be sure to hit the LIKE button and leave a comment.
Music by Josh Woodward -
Cardinal Brigade -
Creative Commons Attribution music by Josh Woodward
Totem Bight State Park Tour Ketchikan, AK
Princess cruise excursion for the Alaska inside passage.
Alaska.org - Totem Bight Park & City Tour - Ketchikan ...
Experience authentic native totem carvings and Ketchikan, Alaska's Salmon Capitol
Ketchikan: Totem Bight State Historical Park - Clan House
Read about my Alaska Trip here -
Ketchikan Totem Park
We visited the Totem Park while in Ketchikan for our Alaska Cruise via the NCL Pearl. Here the tour guide talks about several of the more notable totem poles. See photographs of the park here:
Totem Blight Park - Ketchikan, AK
Totem Bight state park/ Alaska
Representación indígena en Totem Bight State Historical Park, Alaska, Estados Unidos
gacelaporelmundo.com
Representación de danzas tradicionales de los nativos americanos en el Totem Bight State Historical Park, cerca de Ketchikan, Alaska, Estados Unidos
Alaska.org - Potlatch Park - Ketchikan Alaska - ...
Built on the old fishing grounds of Tlingit Natives, the park hosts some of the finest native art in the world!
Alaska 2009 Totem Bight Park, Ketchikan, AK
Ketchikan Totem
Description of Totem pole in Ketchikan Alaska
Saxman Totem Village and Wildlife Extension - Ketchikan, Alaska
Explore the Saxman Totem Village authentic totems, journey to Herring Bay and Rainbow Falls, finish with a historical tour of Creek Street in Ketchikan, Alaska. Learn more:
View all of our tours:
Totem Bight.wmv
Totem Bight State Park, Alaska
Alaska.org - Totem Bight & Lumberjack Show - Ketchikan ...
See Ketchikan's native and pioneering side with a tour of Totem Bright National Park and an entertaining contest as lumberjacks go head to head.
Ketchikan, Alaska/ Totem Bight 2014
Just a few videos clips and pics of our recent walk through of Ketchikan Creek Street and Totem Bight State Park.