Cruise to Alaska
June 30 to July 10, 2000
Page 11, Ketchikan

Ketchikan

With a population of about 14,000, it is the fourth largest city in Alaska. The city's name comes from the Tlingit phrase kitschk-hin, which, broadly translated, means "eagle wing river." Ketchikan was dubbed "Alaska's First City" because it was the first Alaskan port of call to receive mail and supplies from the south. The town stretches along the west shore of Revillagigedo Island at the base of Deer Mountain and is reached only by sea or air. It  calls itself the "salmon capital of the world. (Photo by Marianne)" 
In Ketchikan the Sun Princess was not able to tie up to a pier and had to anchor in the waters of Tongass Narrows.

Tender, being lowered
over the side.
Passengers being ferried
from ship to shore by the tenders.
One of the principal industries in Ketchikan is tourism. We took a tour of the city in an old-fashioned horse-drawn trolley.
Georgianna and Marianne (Photo from Marianne's camera)Frankie, Elmer, driver, and Lydia

Creek Street Historic District, with its wooden boardwalk built up on pilings, was once the red light district. The street--currently lined with homes, art galleries, and small shops--has had a rowdy history, dating back to 1903, when the City Council ordered all brothels to relocate to the Creek Street area. Over 30 bordellos lining the far side of Ketchikan Creek serviced the loggers and fishermen who came to town, and when Prohibition was instituted in 1920, these bawdyhouses also prospered as speakeasies. In the early 1950s, because of a series of scandals, the city council permanently closed the red light district and made prostitution illegal.

All the women moved away except "Big Dolly" Arthur, the best-known madam in Ketchikan. After she died, Dolly’s House was restored as a small museum.
Filled with antiques and secret cachets, the house is much as it was when it opened for "business" in 1919.
Modern day DollyBig Dolly ArthurC'mon in, big boy!Click me!
The museum, now equipped with a living replica of the original Dolly, also sells mementos and tee shirts. Click on the shirt to see Dolly's motto.
THE houseGolly, gee, fellas; Find her a vacant knee, fellas; Dolly'll never go away again! (Georgianna and Marianne--considering a job change???)
A couple of photos donated by Marianne.



Many of Ketchikan's homes behind Creek Street are built on the sides of the mountains and are most easily accesible by boardwalks and stairs. (Photo by Sonny)


Thomas Street, built over the water of Thomas Basin, is one of the few wood-plank streets left in town. It was once part of the New England Fish Co. cannery and its historic buildings are now used by local businesses.

Boats in Thomas Basin
(Photo by Marianne)
This is the "Raven 
Stealing the Sun" 
totem pole which 
stands outside of the 
entrance to the 
Tongass Historical 
Museum. 

Ketchikan 
has one of the world's 
largest collection of 
totem poles.
Click here for close-up view of carvings
Click for story of this totem pole

Hey, I'm a Thunderbird. Get this guy outa my a__!
In Totem Bight State Park, Adrienne, Mary, Georgianna, and Marianne posed in front of the Haida Clan House. The totem pole on the right, symbolizes Thunder and would have belonged to the Thunder House people.
(Photos from Marianne)
Did you bring back some canned salmon from Alaska? Would you like some FREE recipes for salmon and sourdough, direct from Ketchikan? Click here!
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This is a work in progress and Lydia is helping me pick out pictures and write text. Together we're working HARD on this site!
DON'T ANYONE LAUGH, THERE ARE MORE PICTURES COMING, AND THEY WILL BE OF YOU!

Go to:
  • Page 1, Anchorage
  • Page 2, Denali - The Lodge
  • Page 3, Inside Denali National Park
  • Page 4, Going to Fairbanks
  • Page 5, Ride the Discovery III
  • Page 6, The Chena Indian Village
  • Page 7, The Sun Princess and College Fjord
  • Page 8, Glacier Bay
  • Page 9, Skagway
  • Page 10, Juneau
  • Page 11, Ketchikan

    • I'm still adding pictures to this site and there will probably
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