Historic Downtown Ketchikan Preview

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(#1) Ketchikan Visitors Bureau

Public restrooms available in the Visitors Bureau.Near the north entrance to the Visitors Center is “The Rock,” artist Dave Rubin’s representation of Ketchikan’s first peoples and pioneers. A Historic Ketchikan Inc. history kiosk and our famous “rain gauge”, marking our remarkable precipitation, can also be found in this area.Next stop: Ketchikan Welcome Arch.Just across the street towards the mountains. See map for directions.

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(#2) Ketchikan Welcome Arch

The welcome arch was first made in the 1920s. The Chamber of Commerce put neon on the sign in the 1950s. This replica arch was put up by Historic Ketchikan Inc. in 1996.Next stop: Yates Memorial Hospital.Follow Mission Street towards the mountains. See map for directions.

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(#3) Yates Memorial Hospital

Built in 1905 as the Clergy House for the Episcopal Mission, the building was re-purposed in 1909 as a hospital (the town's first) in Ketchikan’s boom years. The building later housed Alaska Sportsman, forerunner of Alaska magazine. The Yates is being restored by Historic Ketchikan Inc. and houses the non-profit’s offices.Next stop: St. John's Episcopal Church.Just a few steps along Mission Street, across the parking lot from the Yates Memorial Hospital. See map for directions.

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(#4) St. John's Episcopal Church

St. John’s, built in 1902, is the oldest church building in Ketchikan. The sanctuary, paneled in cedar from a Saxman mill, originally stood on pilings above the sea.Next stop: Whale Park & the Chief Kyan Totem Pole.Continue along Mission Street towards the mountains, park is between Mill Street and Mission Street. See map for directions.

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(#5) Whale Park & Chief Kyan Totem Pole

A site with greenery, a history kiosk and a bench for rest and people-watching. Chief Kyan totem pole, carved by Israel Shotridge in 1993, replicates a pole raised in 1898 for a Tlingit chief. Billingsley Clock is our oldest public timepiece. Note the new home of Ketchikan Fire Department across Mill Street.Next stop: Chief Johnson Totem Pole.Walk through Whale Park towards the mountains, small crosswalks lead across the street to the pole. See map for directions.

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(#6) Chief Johnson Totem pole

A replica of a pole raised here in 1901 by Tlingit Chief Johnson in honor of the Kadjuk House of the Raven Clan; the original is at Totem Heritage Center. Israel Shotridge carved the replica in 1989.Next stop: Tongass Historical Museum.Head up the hill, following the road (Dock Street) along the parking lot. See map for directions.

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(#7) Tongass Historical Museum

See artifacts, text and photos from our history as a Native fish camp, mining hub, salmon-canning capital and timber town. (Fee.) The Centennial Building commemorates the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. In front is the Raven Stealing the Sun pole, carved by Dempsey Bob in 1983.Next stop: Grant Street trestle.Follow Bawden Street up the hill, keeping to the left (up) at the fork. See map for directions.

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(#8) Grant Street trestle

From a safe vantage on the sidewalk, note how Ketchikan conquers terrain with ingenuity and lumber. Near the trestle are several houses, dating from 1900 to 1920, on the National Register of Historic Places. American Legion Post Home 3 across Park Avenue was built in 1932; the post dates to 1919.Next stop: Water warehouse and creek overlook.Back down Bawden Street and turn left onto Park Avenue (the road that forks off of Bawden Street under the trestle) towards Ketchikan Creek. See map for directions.

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(#9) Water warehouse and creek overlook

Built in 1912, the warehouse is one of Ketchikan’s oldest remaining commercial structures; it was reclaimed in a project by Historic Ketchikan Inc. and is used by Ketchikan Youth Initiatives. A view platform is at creekside above the creek; see salmon schooling for their swim up the falls.Next stop: Fish ladder.Keep walking along Park Avenue until you reach the first bridge. See map for directions.

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(#10) Fish ladder

Salmon struggle back to their native streambed, fighting lower falls and then using a concrete fish ladder to avoid the roughest white water.Next stop: Harris Street Bridge.Follow Park Avenue along the sidewalk beside Ketchikan Creek until you reach the next bridge. See map for directions.

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(#11) Harris Street Bridge

An excellent overlook for salmon in season. Just around the corner, where Freeman St. breaks off of Park Ave., there are small paths that lead down to the creek for an even closer look.Next stop: Ketchikan Creek.Follow Park Avenue sidewalk until you reach the next bridge. See map for directions.

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(#12) Ketchikan Creek

Rainfall, springs and mountain snowpack keep the creek flowing clear and cold year-round. In summer, see salmon by the thousands spawning in the gravel beds where they were born years before.Next stop: Hatchery.At the end of the bridge, take a right down Salmon Road and follow the path along the creek. See map for directions.

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(#13) Hatchery

Hatcheries operated along the creek since the 1930s, augmenting natural salmon runs. A nonprofit aquaculture group took over in 2015.Next stop: City Park.Just beyond the hatchery, down the same path along the creek. See map for directions.

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(#14) City Park

Small ponds in the park go back to the early 1900s, when they were holding ponds for salmon in the city’s first hatchery. The lighted fountain, originally built in the 1930s, was restored by volunteers in 1989.Next stop: Totem Heritage Center.Take the bridge that goes across Ketchikan Creek. See map for directions.

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(#15) Totem Heritage Center

A world-renowned collection of original, unrestored totem poles from Tlingit and Haida villages testifies to the artistry of 19th-century Native carvers. The center, part of the City of Ketchikan museum department, exhibits Native arts. Guided and self-guided tours.Next stop: St. Elizabeth's Church.Walk out through the parking lot, passing the small playground, then take a right onto Deermount Avenue. See map for directions.

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(#16) St. Elizabeth's Church

Please note: the mortuary is a private business and is closed to everyone but customers. Visitors are not welcome.The church was built by Ketchikan Native Episcopal Community around 1927, when congregations in Ketchikan were segregated. A church until 1962, it now serves as Ketchikan Mortuary.Next stop: Ketchikan Indian Community.Keep on the Deermount Avenue sidewalk, walking down towards the water. See map for directions.

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(#17) Ketchikan Indian Community

K.I.C. is a federally recognized tribal government, organized in 1939 under the Indian Reorganization Act. K.I.C. is involved in health, education and culture for Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people, and other Alaska Natives. Northwest Coast eagle and raven panels on the building were made by Tlingit artist Ernie Smeltzer with students in 1983.Next stop: Sun Raven Totem Pole.Keep going down Deermount Avenue, take the Stedman Street crosswalk across the road, and turn right towards town. See map for directions.

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(#18) Sun Raven Totem Pole

Tlingit artist Israel Shotridge in 2003 raised this replica of a pole dating to the early 1900s on Tongass Island, ancestral home of the Tongass Tribe of Tlingit Indians. Another Sun Raven replica from 1939 stands in Saxman. The carver gave this pole to the Tongass Tribe and community. It stands beside UAS Ketchikan campus’ downtown facilities.Take East Street toward the water for the scenic route to the next stop. The Waterfront Promenade extends out the Thomas Basin breakwater for a spectacular look at Deer Mountain, the harbor and downtown.Next stop: Thomas Street.Continue down Stedman Street, turning left down the boardwalk at the Salvation Army. See map for directions.

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(#19) Thomas Street

This wood-plank street fronts the site of an early Ketchikan dock; in the 1890s it was a makeshift log raft. Thomas Street has been home to boat yards, carpenters, machine shops, bars and bordellos.Next stop: Thomas Basin viewing platform.Follow the boardwalk along the water, walking behind the Salvation Army building, towards town. See map for directions.

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(#20) Thomas Basin viewing platform

The Ketchikan Creek mouth was a broad tidal flat that served until the 1920s, at low tide, as Ketchikan’s only baseball field. In 1922, pilot Roy Jones splashed down here in a small seaplane—the first to fly from Seattle to Ketchikan non-stop. The Corps of Engineers dredged the creek mouth for this harbor in the 1930s.Next stop: Stedman Street Bridge.Continue towards town. See map for directions.

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(#21) Stedman Street bridge

In season, see thousands of salmon gathering to run up the creek. Anglers fish from the wide sidewalk on the seaward side. Cross carefully at the crosswalk.Next stop: Bayside Hotel.Cross the bridge towards town, take the crosswalk to the creek side of the road. See map for directions.

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(#22) Bayside Hotel

First known as Thomas Basin Rooms, Bayside Hotel was built in 1927 by Forest and Harriet Hunt. It was a cafe/pool hall and boardinghouse for fishermen and cannery workers and then a “sporting house” in Creek Street’s brothel era. Restoration features historically appropriate design for mixed uses . Adjacent is a deck with a great view of Ketchikan Creek where you can often see seals, birds, and fish.Next stop: Creek Street.Walk back across the red Stedman Street Bridge along the Ketchikan Creek side. See map for directions.

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(#23) Creek Street

The area became a red-light district in 1902. More than 30 bawdy houses with one or two “working girls” lined the creek over the years. With Prohibition, some became speakeasies; bootleggers rowed in at night to deliver booze. The city outlawed prostitution in 1953 and Creek Street became a mixed residential and commercial area. Star House (No. 5 Creek St.) was a dance hall and the only registered brothel in the Territory of Alaska; it’s on the National Register of Historic Places.Next stop: Dolly's House.Follow the boardwalk up along Ketchikan Creek. See map for directions.

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(#24) Dolly's House

Dolly Arthur was Ketchikan’s most famous madam in the heyday of Creek Street. Her house, preserved much as she left it, features antiques, caches and garish decor. Tours are provided.Next stop: Footbridge.Continue along up Creek Streek, keeping left when the boardwalk diverges after the tram station. See map for directions.

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(#25) Footbridge

Observe unique Creek Street, where historic buildings on pilings flank a salmon stream. See the historical kiosk at the head of the bridge.Next stop: Ketchikan Daily News.Walk towards the cruise ship docks along the Dock Street sidewalk. See map for directions.

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(#26) Ketchikan Daily News

The lone survivor of more than a dozen papers published here since 1900, the Daily News was founded in 1935 and remains family-owned.Next stop: Edmonds Street.Right next to the Daily News in the adjacent alley. See map for directions.

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(#27) Edmonds Street

This long wooden stairway leads to great views of downtown and the boat harbor.Next stop: Main and Dock Streets.Continue down Dock Street towards the cruise ship docks. See map for directions.

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(#28) Main and Dock Streets

Ketchikan’s historic business center. The Heckman Building, from 1912, is one of the oldest concrete structures in Alaska.Next stop: Ketchikan Fire Dept / KPAC.Follow Main Street up the hill. See map for directions.

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(#29) Ketchikan Fire Department / KPAC

KFD’s former downtown station; the department moved out in 2012. KFD was founded by volunteers in 1900. Next door up the hill is the future Ketchikan Performing Arts Center, where First City Players is raising funds to renovate Elks Lodge 1429, built in 1949.Next stop: Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council.Right across the street. See map for directions.

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(#30) Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council

KAAHC supports Ketchikan’s arts community and presents arts events. Main Street Gallery regularly features artist exhibits, most local. The building was formerly a Christian Science reading room.Next stop: Red Man Lodge.Just up the hill, same side of the street. See map for directions.

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(#31) Red Men Lodge

Ketchikan’s first fraternal organization dates to 1900 and featured many Ketchikan civic leaders. It was all-white until the 1960s. The original lodge building was at the corner of Mission and Main streets.Next stop: Burkhart-Dibrell House.Continue up the Main Street sidewalk. See map for directions.

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(#32) Burkhart-Dibrell House

This turreted Victorian was built in 1904 for H.Z. Burkhart, a founder of Ketchikan Power Co., predecessor of Ketchikan Spruce Mill. It’s among our last examples of the Queen Anne style of the early 1900s. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.Next stop: Knob Hill overlook.Follow up Main Street as it becomes Pine Street and then turn right up Front Street. See map for directions.

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(#33) Knob Hill overlook

This walkway offers a tremendous view of Newtown and First Lutheran Church and passes Knob Hill homes dating as early as 1901.Next stop: Front Street stairway.Walk downwards to the end of Front Street. See map for directions.

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(#34) Front Street stairway

First built in 1902, this 117-step boardwalk played an important role in providing pedestrian access from Knob Hill to businesses, recreation, government, employment and social activities in the earliest days.Next stop: Tunnel.Down the staircase. See map for directions.

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(#35) Tunnel

Ripley’s Believe It or Not called it the only tunnel in the world that can be driven through, driven around and driven over (on upper Front Street). Finished in 1954, it eased access to Newtown; for half a century before it, narrow plank streets on pilings skirted the rock. Use the crosswalk and be careful.Next stop: Eagle Park.Across the corner from the tunnel, use the crosswalk near the bottom of the Front Street stairway. See map for directions.

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(#36) Eagle Park

Master carver Nathan Jackson’s “Thundering Wings” graces the park. Across Front Street is the Gilmore Hotel, built in 1927 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.This concludes the Historic Ketchikan Downtown Walking Tour.