ketchikan visitor center

30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.6% were headed by married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. United States. Totem poles are primarily mainly found in the northwestern part of the United States and British Columbia, Canada. The area near the mouth of Ketchikan Creek earned Ketchikan a measure of infamy during the first half of the 20th century for a red-light district known as Creek Street, with brothels aligned on either side of the creek. Located in the Berth 2 Visitor Information Center, our tour center is the best place to go if youre looking for something to do. #alaska #visitalaska #thelastfrontier #travelalaska #vacationplanning #traveldestination #totempoles #funfacts #alaskantotempoles, My happy place #alaska #petersburg #ak #thelastfrontier #insidepassage #southeastalaska #juneau #ketchikan #ferry #drone #dronephotography #dronestagram #droneshots #droneoftheday #birdseyeview #harbor #islandlife #islandvibes #oceanview #seaview #landscapephotography #travelphotography #travelgram #wanderlust #summerafar, Wild Southeast Alaska Blueberries Ketchikan is a popular port of call on Alaska cruises. The Serenade of the Seas is the first large cruise ship to visit Ketchikan since October 2019. Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. Car, train, or group tour. It is our sole purpose to ensure that you have a great time visiting Ketchikan, so please allow us to help you plan your perfect day(s) in Southeast Alaska! Ketchikan also houses the publishing offices of the Ketchikan Daily News. A wide variety of lodging options, many overlooking the water, can be found in Ketchikan. Ketchikan first appeared on the 1890 U.S. Census as the unincorporated village of "Kichikan." The most snowfall in one month was 45.1 inches (1.15m) in January 1971. Over 800,000 visitors come through Ketchikan [2] each year by cruise ship. The campus is located on the uphill side of Ketchikan's West End neighborhood and consists of two buildings, the Paul Building and the Ziegler Building. The "Welcome to Ketchikan Sign" in downtown Ketchikan. This 3,570-square-mile wilderness is a natural mosaic of sea cliffs, steep fjords, and rock walls jutting 3,000 feet straight out of the ocean. About 12.4% of the population, including 19.8% of those under 18-years old, were below the poverty line. There are two zip-line operations with one of them letting you zip 4,600 feet down the side of a mountain via eight lines and three suspension bridges. ) or https:// means you've safely [22], In 2017, the ACS-estimated median and average annual incomes for a household in the city were $56,372 and $70,490, respectively. Totem Bight State Historical Park, Alaska. Did you know that Ketchikan boasts the largest number of totem poles in Alaska? Grab a copy of our (free) Historic Walking Tour Map and set out on your own, or let us show you around. To the south, South Tongass Avenue leads to totems and hiking trails. In addition, Kanayama sends a group of students to Ketchikan during the spring, and students from Ketchikan travel to Kanayama the following summer. More totems are displayed outside, and the entire center is shrouded by Sitka spruce with Ketchikan Creek gurgling nearby. Nonstop flights on Alaska Airlines connect the Ketchikan International Airport to Seattle, Juneau, Sitka, and Wrangell, with easy connections to the rest of Alaska and the Lower 48. Carved out of a single Redwood Bring warm, waterproof layers and be prepared for quickly-changing weather conditions. Flightseeing tours in Misty Fjords National Munument. . 10. Were here for another few days before we hop on another ferry to Juneau. Numerous lodges and resorts are located along Tongass Narrows and cater to visiting anglers. The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center is just a few hundred feet east of the cruise docks. [36] Ketchikan also sees regular day service from the Alaska Marine Highway vessel M/V Lituya, a day boat that shuttles between its homeport in Metlakatla, AK and Ketchikan. LockA locked padlock You'll stay Waterfall Resort Alaska is known the world over for the astounding number of king and silver salmon, halibut, lingcod, and other sport fish Book with the locals!ALASKA & YUKON TOURS is Juneau's only 100% local, 100% year round travel agency. Elevations of inhabited areas range from just above sea level to about 300 feet (91m). Ketchikan calls itself the Salmon Capital of the World and for this reason anglers flock to the city. More information on ourFees & Passes page. On average, the growing season (non-freezing temperatures) lasts about 6.3 months or 191 days, extending from about April 19 to about October 27. Today, its historic wood-frame houses contain restaurants, shops, and Dolly's House Museum, the home of Ketchikan's most famous madam. Vessels depart northbound to Alaskan ports of call and southbound to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, a six-hour trip, where a connection can be made to the BC Ferries system and Bellingham, Washington, a thirty-six-hour voyage. Ketchikan Visitors Bureau is located at 50 Front St Ste 203 in Ketchikan, Alaska 99901. The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center is located in downtown Ketchikan and offers excellent information for visitors and those who are new to Alaska. Theres a lot to see and do in Ketchikan! A cruise to Alaska takes you to many locations where you can see these beautiful works of art in person. Create a new list of your favorites by first hitting the Save to a List button at the top of any listing. Overwhelmed by choices? Are you a nature lover? 7-10 days is the most common. A 1995 joint EPA and FBI investigation of the company revealed it had dumped contaminated wastewater and sludge in the waters around Ward Cove, leaving them classified as "impaired" by the EPA. The average annual rainfall is 162 inches, but it has been known top 200 inches. The show is just one block away from the cruise ship docks, and normally there are 3-5 shows a day. Those magnificent, original poles are displayed at the center along with detailed descriptions of their history and iconography and other Alaska Native art. Call Us Locally: 907-225-1206 Reserve Online. One of the amazing resources they provide is the Ketchikan Area Guide, available both online and in printed form available at both Ketchikan Visitors Bureau Tour Centers (located next to Berth #2 and #3).. You can also request a free trip planner be mailed to you.. If you dont get around to booking activities before you get here, dont worry: There are plenty of things to do and same-day bookings are available in our Tour Center. Address, Phone Number, Fax Number, and Hours for Ketchikan Visitors Center, a Visitors Center, at Front Street, Ketchikan AK. THE BEST OF ALASKA AND THE YUKON. Also, video and interpretive programs are presented daily to enhance visitors understanding of the last frontier. 2023 Alaska Handbook, All Rights Reserved. In honor of its status as the earliest incorporated city in Alaska and the first port of call for visitors cruising north through the Inside Passage, Ketchikan is being called the First City of Alaska. Look her up! Pleads Guilty to Environmental Crimes", "SitNews: KETCHIKAN PULP MILL CLOSED 20 YEARS AGO By DAVE KIFFER", "Alaska's newest ferries will be built by Alaskans", "Alaska Marine Highway System - Official site of the Alaska DOT&PF", "Welcome To Alaska's Inter-Island Ferry Authority", "William Paul, Sr., and the Alaska Voters' Literacy Act of 1925", "Artist Ray Troll's creations are filled to the gills", "Ray Troll-A Story of Fish, Fossils and Funky Art", "CLOID ELMER WATTS Obituary (2016) Tri-City Herald", "Can you Build Ships Out of Ice? At the risk of sounding trite, there's something for everyone in Ketchikan and a wide variety of ways to explore our beautiful backyard, the Tongass National Forest. We have a very active Native arts community of carvers, dancers, weavers, painters, and engravers and their work is everywhere even on one of our city buses! It will take you through Creek Street, a charming town with lots of history. (Save for later ) According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15.3km2). Discover the industries that shaped Ketchikan Please adjust your search criteria and try again. 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). The guide is packed full of visitor information! Choose one of AYT has the ONLY online cruise booking engine in Alaska that's BASED in Alaska. 5 SAXMAN, AK Take a Walk on Creek Street. (5:50 p.m. EDT) -- Cruisers heading to Alaska this summer will find a new way to spend time in a local town . #Alaska #Explore #ExploreAlaska #Travel #Nature #Landscape #ocean #LoveAlaska #TheAlaskaLife #PNWLife #PacificNorthwest #AlaskaWinter #Winter #February #Weather #ItsAmazingOutThere #PNW #sunrise #49thState #beach #Ketchikan #SoutheastAlaska #SEAK #snow #PNWonderland #smalltown #island #islandlife #PacificOcean, Went hiking and saw this bear getting his dinner to go #Alaska #AlaskaLife #Ketchikan #Bear #ToGo #Hiking #SettlersCove, Scenes from the arrival of the Royal Caribbean International Radiance-class cruise ship Serenade of the Seas on Friday, July 9, 2021 at Berth 4 in Ketchikan, Alaska. Thank you, Ketchikan! 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. You can even view wildlife here. 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. Ketchikan is named after Ketchikan Creek, which flows through the town, emptying into the Tongass Narrows a short distance southeast of its downtown. Visit the Totem Heritage Center. 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. Dubbed E-Craft (for Expeditionary use), the Susitna will serve as the engineering and feasibility platform for a Navy vessel of approximately double the size to assist troops in landing at undeveloped beaches around the world. There's a wide variety of places to stay in Ketchikan, from hotels located in the heart of downtown to rustic lodges off the beaten track overlooking the water. Check out the Ketchikan, Alaska cruise port viewing 3830 reviews and 1629 photos from real travelers. A prototype ferry craft for use by Alaska's Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the Susitna is the result of planning by Admiral Jay M. Cohen, former chief of the Office of Naval Research, and former Navy captain Lew Madden, then working as a project manager for Lockheed Martin. It is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest, which is managed by the United States Forest Service from its headquarters in the Ketchikan Federal Building downtown, and to the south by the Tongass Narrows, a narrow east-west saltwater channel, which is part of the Inside Passage. 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. Sitka National Historical Park - only national park dedicated to totem poles [29], The Misty Fiords National Monument is one of the area's major attractions, and the Tongass National Forest has long been headquartered in Ketchikan, mostly in the city's historic Federal Building. As of 2010, there were 8,050 people, 3,259 households, and 1,885 families residing in the city. It has totems representing the Haida, Tlingit and Tsimshian cultures, interactive displays about the area and a 150-person movie theater with stories about the city and its history. Have you always wanted to go off-roading in Alaska? Visited: Jun 25, 2017 Ketchikan (/ktkn/ KETCH-ih-kan;[4] Tlingit: Kichxan) is a city in and the borough seat of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough of Alaska. Sometimes they get in the way of satellite reception! Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. [32] A total of 514 direct year-round jobs and more than 500 indirect jobs were lost as a result.[33]. Passengers disembark from the Holland America ship Koningsdam in Ketchikan during one of the ship's first voyages to Alaska in May 2022. Residents tell stories of our fishing, aviation and timber industries, share our arts and Native culture, and offer insights into local history. An educational exchange program has been active between the two towns since 1986. They are unimaginably magnificent! Unique to each tribe, totem poles represent historical events and typically tell stories of the local native people. 13 Top Things to Do in Ketchikan, Alaska By Linda Garrison Updated on 09/08/22 Dean Fikar / Getty Images Ketchikan is often called the "Gateway to Southeast Alaska" as it is the southernmost city on the Inside Passage. 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. The figures on the poles are not like gods to be worshipped. The company's pulp mill opened in the cove in 1954. ), Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map, Denali National Park Campgrounds & RV Parks. Please check back as more information becomes available. But dont worry: There are plenty of places in town where the signal is strong! In The Young Pope TV series, the character Pope Pius XIII as a punishment sends several cardinals who upset him to Ketchikan, which is depicted as a frozen wasteland. Totem Heritage Center & Totem Bight State Historical Park The Ketchikan International Airport serves as both a gateway for Alaska Airlines nonstop jet service to and from Seattle, Juneau, Sitka and Wrangell, with direct service to Anchorage, and as a bush carrier and charter aircraft hub for destinations such as Hyder, Metlakatla and Prince of Wales Island communities. The ferry to Prince of Wales Island takes about 3 hours, so we had another opportunity to enjoy some non-freeze-dried food before we departed , A few things I learned in Ketchikan Alaskas First City and the Salmon Capital of the World today 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). Learn the best things to do at the port of Ketchikan, Alaska. South of Ketchikan is Saxman Native Village & Totem Park. Ketchikan has everything needed to be the zip line capital of Alaska: lush rainforests and elevation. The most popular house in the 1930s on Creek Street was Dolly's House, the parlor of the city's most famous madam, Dolly Arthur. Entrance Fee: $5 per person or America the Beautiful Pass; persons 15 years and younger free. "Ketchikan" comes from the Tlingit name for the creek, Kitschk-hin, the meaning of which is unclear. Experience a fixed-wing Dehavilland Beaver (DHC-2) Alaskan . a a a. . Learn about our lawless past Ketchikan Visitor Center is a Tourist Information in Ketchikan. 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. Are you a nature lover? Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. 64 reviews The Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary in Ketchikan is home to a huge variety of Alaskan wildlife, including bears, bald eagles, seals, and deer. The words salmon and halibut likely bring to mind Alaska and for good reason! Salmon capital of the world, and lots of other fish in the sea. A You can contact Patti Mackey at (907) 225-6166. Winters are chilly but milder than its latitude alone may suggest: January has a 24-hour average of 35.6F (2.0C) with an average daytime high of 39.7F (4.3C) and an overnight low of 31.5F (0.3C). #celebritycruises #travelalaska #visitketchikan, Finally went to see the Misty Fjords with these amazing people and it did not disappoint! Other species available include halibut, red snapper, lingcod, and rock cod. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. Sorry, no records were found. Several attractions highlight the industries that made Ketchikan possible. The per capita income for the city was $30,474. Set at the southernmost entrance to Alaska's famed Inside Passagea network of waterways that snake through some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful wilderness in the worldKetchikan is best known for three things: feisty salmon, idyllic scenery, and an incredibly rich Alaska Native culture. More Alaska Cruise Port Ideas and Inspiration! Alaska's parks, forests, and refuges are rich and varied.