The southernmost city in Alaska, Ketchikan calls itself the “First City” because it is the first stop in Alaska for ferries and many cruise ships traveling north through the Inside Passage. Its vibrant native Alaskan heritage, scenic location, and picturesque hillside houses and staircases make it a popular destination for travelers.
Located on the western coast of Revillagigedo Island (known to locals as Revilla), Ketchikan has a population of roughly 7,400 (13,300 in the metropolitan area). It receives at least 156 inches of rain per year, making it one of the wettest communities in North America. Despite the climate, Ketchikan is known for outdoor recreation, including hiking, kayaking, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
Ketchikan has the largest concentration of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people in Alaska. The city’s name is believed to come from a Tlingit word meaning “thundering wings of an eagle.”
History of Ketchikan, the Salmon Capital of the World
Ketchikan was originally a Tlingit fish camp until a salmon saltery was established on the site in 1883. Following its incorporation in 1900, the city became known as the “salmon capital of the world." Thirteen canneries shipped more than 1.5 million cases of salmon southward every year, and the city grew rapidly with the influx of cannery workers, fishermen, loggers, and prostitutes. During the 1930s, the town was Alaska’s largest.
The salmon fisheries declined in the 1940s and crashed in the 1970s, primarily due to overfishing. However, the industry gradually recovered, and commercial fishing and fish processing remain important sectors of Ketchikan’s economy. Other major industries include timber, mining, and tourism, with a strong emphasis on Tlingit and other native cultures and arts.
Creek Street, Remnant of Ketchikan's Wild Past
Creek Street is a wooden boardwalk constructed on pilings along Ketchikan Creek. During the wild days of Prohibition and the Roaring ’20s, it housed bars, gambling houses, and bordellos.
Among the most famous establishments was Dolly’s House, dubbed “the place where men and salmon came upstream to spawn.” Dolly Arthur arrived in Ketchikan as a 26-year-old in 1914 and “entertained” male visitors until 1953, when the red-light district was closed down. A 5’8” buxom blonde, she was known as “Big Dolly,” weighing in at 240 pounds in later years.
These days, salmon still spawn in Ketchikan Creek, but Dolly’s House is now a museum. However, Creek Street continues to draw visitors with its colorful historic buildings and mix of shops and galleries.
Things to See and Do in Ketchikan
- Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show: Log rolling, springboard chopping, axe throwing, and pole climbing.
- Tongass Historical Museum: Photographs, arts, and artifacts depicting all aspects of Ketchikan’s history.
- Totem Heritage Center: Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian art, including a collection of unrestored 19th century totems, retrieved from deserted remote sites.
- Funicular to WestCoast Cape Fox Lodge: Panoramic views of the city center from 130 feet above Creek St.
- Southeast Alaska Discovery Center:Interpretive exhibits, videos, and other information about the Tongass National Forest, outdoor activities, and native traditions.
- Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery and Eagle Center: Spawning salmon, exhibits on traditional native fishing, and closeup views of a resident pair of injured bald eagles.
- Saxman Native Village and Totem Park: Tlingit Indian village 2 1/2 miles south of town. More than 20 totem poles, a carving shed with master carvers at work, and a Beaver Clan House. Performances by the Cape Fox dancers.
- Totem Bight State Park:10 miles north of town. 14 totems and a Tlingit clan house.
The more than 3,500 square miles of wilderness that make up Misty Fjords National Monument have been called the Grand Canyon of southeast Alaska. A wonderland of 3,000-foot granite cliffs and 1,000-foot waterfalls, Misty Fjords receives 120-150 inches of rain per year. The area is home to bald eagles, brown and black bears, wolves, mountains goats, whales, porpoises, seals, and sea lions. Ketchikan is the closest departure point for boat and airplane excursions into the area.
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