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    Saxman Totem Park

    4.0 (32 reviews)

    Saxman Totem Park Photos

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    Michaela P.

    We decided to visit as part of a group tour however it's right outside of Ketchikan and you can easily take an Uber or ride a bike there on your own. I really enjoyed learning about the different totems and the symbolism behind each one. Understanding the history of the village really makes you appreciate all it has to offer even more. There is a gift shop on site and all the proceeds go directly to support the tribe. Bonus there was a world renown totem carver visiting so we were able to see him carving firsthand.

    Ray F.

    A short tour as part of an excursion package from a cruise let us visit and learn a little about totem poles. What I thought I knew was all myth. What I learned was really cool! I have a much greater appreciation for these tribal marketing tools! The park was visited early and the carvers were not at work, but we did get to peer in through the windows as the guide explained what we saw as well as a lot of history. Outside, we saw quite a few totem poles along with a lodge. This is worth the trip and be sure to go with a guide to point out the symbols, colors life of the poles, woods used and how to read them.

    Sarah S.

    You can book a tour or excursion to visit Saxman Totem Park but my friend and I did it sans these options on our own. It worked well for us to go at our own pace and see everything we wanted to. And actually we had some great interactions with locals we might not have had otherwise. The Totem Park is a part of the large Saxman Native Village celebrating native Tlingit culture. Ketchikan is the totem pole capital of the world and the Totem park has 25 replicas or original totem poles. We took an Uber up to the park and then another back down. There is a very small ticket booth and it costs all of FIVE dollars to tour on your own. Best deal of all time. We spent a lot of time talking to the gentleman at the booth and were so grateful for all the knowledge he bestowed upon us. It was a real highlight of my week talking to a gentleman with deep Tlingit roots who discussed some history and even showed us some eagle nests. He was such a gem of a human. We hiked up the small hill to check out the poles, saw one being worked on and carved and also checked out their building which was hosting an informational video for a tour group. I was again, so lucky, to encounter a local person selling some jewelry and bought a beautiful piece. Beautiful sights to see and humans to meet! I had the BEST time at the Saxman Totem Park.

    Sergio Z.

    Our Alaskan cruise trip headed to Ketchikan,Alaska a beautiful city with a great view water and fishing boats. We went on a tour to visit the Saxman Tribal house just not far away from Ketchikan. The Saxman Tribal are Native Alaskans who living these lands for many years. First they brought the group to their Tribal house they preform a dances and tell us stories about the people and their craving skills their totem are amazing and beautiful hand made from the bottom to the top. After the shop we to the gift they amazing items including native craftworks.

    Heather B.

    What an interesting and historically fun place to visit! We came here on a whim after stepping off our cruise ship...asked some locals about seeing totem poles and directed us to take the city bus ($2 for adults, $1 for kids) east to Saxman. We caught the 9:45am bus and eventually after spending more than an hour there took the 11:15 bus back to Ketchikan. Don't fall for the cruise ship excursion price- take the city bus then pay the $5pp to be there compared to ten times that! I digress.... I love learning about cultures and native culture. Finding an authentic experience like this was exactly what we'd hoped for with our few hours off the ship! They have a variety of totem poles- we overheard the information about what certain things mean on the totems to better understand why the carving was done like it was. I'm not a big history buff but learning about the carvings and the history dating back to Abraham Lincoln was super interesting! We also had an authentic experience inside their tribal house with kids and adults dressed up with dancing and singing. Such a treat! I HIGHLY recommend taking the time out of Ketchikan to experience some history and culture! We gave a nice big tip on the way out of the tribal house wanting the money to go directly to the community instead of the cruise ship excursion company! Such a wonderful experience on a whim. Go see the totems and learn about the culture and history- you won't regret it!! PS. If someone ever owes you a debt it'll show up in your totem pole as an upside down person on your totem pole! LOL

    Suzy S.

    Saxman Totem Park is a nice space in Saxman, Alaska just outside of Ketchikan. The park has quite a few totems which are pretty to see. The only issue with this park is that unless you have a guide who knows about the totems, there isn't a lot of information about each one. Most of the totems have small signs that say the name of the totem, but there's no historical information.

    Totem Area
    Kristian D.

    I visited Saxman Totem Park as part of a shore excursion when visiting Ketchikan. This was a nice addition to the tour with an extended stop at the park including several activities. The park is located in Saxman requiring a drive from the port, so be prepared. There is parking at the facility, but most people use buses or other services. Our tour began with an introductory video and brief language lesson from the guides. We then walked through a small nature path towards the main house. Inside the main house, we enjoyed a demonstration of native dancing from the local nation dancers. The main house is a good replica of the historic houses used by the indigenous people over many centuries. Seating is on hard wood surfaces, so bring a cushion if needed. After the dance, we had a tour of the totem park including explanations of the significance of each one. The story behind the Seward totem is interesting. Across the street is a nice gift shop with a lot of native goods for sale. The tour ended in the shop where totems are still carved by native craftsmen for many purposes. You can order one if you have lots of cash and a good soul! It is good to learn about the native history of Alaska when visiting. Overall, the tour was a bit rushed, but it was still a great option. We had a rare sunny day, so be prepared for lots of rain and cold when visiting. Kids will enjoy the dance, but may be bored with the rest. It's up to you to either book through the cruise or on your own, but Saxman Totem Park is a nice stop for all ability levels.

    Saxman Totem Poles. 15 minutes outside Ketchikan.
    Debra V.

    Largest collection of totem poles are here. Learning about them was very educational. A museum is open, but we didn't go in. We learned about the black/white paint vs. the brighter colors. We learned to read poles starting at the top. Some poles have only a figure at the top and now we know why. So cool. There are restrooms here. Our local guide was found in a booth on the pier where our ship docked. For nearly two hours he drove us around. We saw a swimming inlet, eagles, water falls, and looked for bears. He was very interesting. Glad we found him.

    Chris L.

    This was a unique shore excursion that we did from our cruise ship and really enjoyed the experience. We first heard a presentation by a native boy who told us some information about the tribe. Then we walked through the woods to the tribal house (neat building made with big trees) where we had a tribal performance with singing/dancing. After that, we went outside where our guide talked about the history of totem poles. We also visited a building where a new totem pole was being carved. On the way out, we visited a gift shop.

    Leslie H.

    Super easy, beautiful walk. Amazing poles and structures. Grab a cab and head straight there without waiting for a tour.

    Chris S.

    If you would like to learn about Indian heritage this is a beautiful place to go and walk. Although it was closed we were able to walk around and look at the totem polls and enjoy the beauty of the park. We came here two years ago and were able to go into the buildings with a guide and have her explain some Indian history. Don't miss the park. it's very nice experience.

    Saxman totem poles
    Lorri D.

    Loads of Native American Indian history here, I highly recommend a tour, as we did through Sourdough Tours (booked separately from our Princess Cruise). Touted the largest collection of totem poles... however, I was surprised that there still weren't very many. Interesting anyway and very cool to see them up close and learn their stories and history. Nice to see how they are (and were) made too. Most of the existing totems in the park are around 100 years old or more. My favorite story was of the Abraham Lincoln totem. Lincoln was known for being very tall but the Indians only had seen him in the pictures and those pictures were from the knees up. So the totem pole has a very short Lincoln on the top. Many stories and interesting insights when speaking with the locals. Ketchikan is a typically very rainy and cool town, so make sure you wear layers and come prepared!! Doesn't matter what time of year! I would recommend looking into a guided tour or finding out how you can get more information while visiting here though. Cruise lines offer expensive tours, as do independent. You can also ask the staff, worth a call or email to find out pricing and what there is to offer. Great job giving tourists a little bit of your precious history Tlingets!

    Gift shop
    Hanna G.

    Ketchikan was our last stop on the Princess Cruise and this was unfortunately probably the most disappointing excursion that we booked. Typical Ketchikan weather aside (downpour in September) the tour itself indeed felt as if we fell into an overpriced tourist trap. I checked some other websites and it turns out if you did an independent tour of the place it would only be $5/person admission. Through Princess we paid about $54 but that included transportation along with a "The Clan House Tour & Native Dancing Show". Definitely not worth ~$49 extra. Oh well... you live and you learn. My SO and I sat on the smallest bus and waited for the other 2 large coach buses seating 100 more enthusiastic tourists take off to the village 15 minutes away from the cruise port. Not quite the "intimate" experience they were marketing on the shore excursions website. We shuffled into what looked like an auditorium and one of the native Tlingit members greeted us. He taught us some phrases then proceeded to show us a 30 minute DVD introduction to the culture. They combined the groups from the Princess Cruise and Holland America line so there were so many people I can't imagine the people in the back heard very well. Similarly when we went into the Beaver shaped clan meeting house we had to sit all the way in the back while they performed the half-hearted dance. (I'm sure they do this several times during the day but it just looked like they were going through the motions.) Afterwards we stood outside in the pouring rain for about 20 minutes as our bus tour guides told us about the specific totem poles that they have on display. The stories were nice, but we were all wet and uncomfortable. I know nothing they could have had control over. I couldn't wait to get into our last stop the carving station. Again my shortness proved challenging to see what was going on as they crammed 60+ people inside. We asked the Master Carver and the other carvers about the projects. Overall it was interesting learning about the native culture, but definitely not worth the price that we paid through the cruise.

    One of the totem guards at the park.

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    The totem poles are amazing as are the tour guides. We enjoyed the traditional dancing and the house where the artisans do their magic.

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    Review Highlights - Saxman Totem Park

    We also had an authentic experience inside their tribal house with kids and adults dressed up with dancing and singing.

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    Totem Heritage Center

    Totem Heritage Center

    4.5(44 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    Great, enriching experience with so much history! Sherry is SO sweet. She was filling me in on her…read morehistory and affiliation with the Tlingit tribe, and helping me pronounce it. I even saw her at Walmart later! I told her how I was enjoying Ketchikan and she told me to come in August for the blueberry festival. The museum itself seems very thorough and I love all the artic acts and video. I'm going back to Ketchikan and will be spending more time here. I want to really soak up the history, being part native myself. The park near it is beautiful and I caught the free shuttle bus here. Beautiful area, lots of history. Come when you have time to take it all in.

    We walked the trails from Creek Street to this charming little museum and were glad we made the…read morestop. Admission is very reasonable at $7 for adults, with free admission for children and military members, and just $6 for seniors 65+. While I do wish the museum was a bit larger, there was still a nice collection of totem poles to see and learn about. They even have several totem poles displayed outside, so if you don't have time to go inside, it's still worth stopping by for a photo. We were amazed by the history behind them and just how old some of these incredible pieces are. The staff was friendly and welcoming, the bathrooms were clean, and the exhibits were well maintained. Overall, it's a great short stop to get out of the rain, learn something new, and experience an important part of the local culture. As an added bonus, the free shuttle will bring you here and back to downtown, making it a very convenient attraction to visit. Highly recommended if you're exploring the area!

    Photos
    Totem Heritage Center
    Totem Heritage Center
    Totem Heritage Center - Inside

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    Inside

    Southeast Alaska Discovery Center

    Southeast Alaska Discovery Center

    4.1(14 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    June, 2025. My husband and I loved our visit to Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, a collaboration…read morebetween the US Forest Service and Alaska parks on the Tongass National Forest. We spent about two hours in the center, but easily could have spent more. There are interesting cultural and ecological displays spread over two floors -- in well laid out and open display areas. There is also extensive programming, both with Ranger Programs and regular films in the comfortable theater. We particularly enjoyed watching two Native artists -- one putting finishing touches on an oil painting and the other painting a symbolic paddle. Youngsters can participate in the Junior Rangers Program. I was able to get a stamp in my National Parks Passport though technically this isn't a national park, and to buy a refrigerator magnet souvenir. Summer admission is $5 for those aged 16 and above; free for those 15 and younger. Tip: if you have a National Parks pass, it's accepted at the Discovery Center so don't leave it at home in Virginia! The Discovery Center is an easy walk from the cruise terminal, as well as the Creek Street area, but doesn't have the crowds of either.

    The website for Southeast Alaska Discovery Center states that "...this USDA Forest Service managed…read morecenter serves as a gateway to the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the United States." The museum is located just a street away from where the Ruby Princess was docked. Inside were informative exhibits and artifacts. And, with our America The Beautiful Annual Park Pass, we bypassed the entrance fee. Plus, we got a stamp for our National Parks Passport even though it's not a National Park. Pretty neat visit, especially getting to see totem poles not worn out by the weather.

    Photos
    Southeast Alaska Discovery Center
    Southeast Alaska Discovery Center
    Southeast Alaska Discovery Center

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    Dolly's House Museum & Gift Shop - Silk condoms on the shower curtain

    Dolly's House Museum & Gift Shop

    3.7(39 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    We absolutely loved visiting Dolly's House! Not only was it fascinating to learn about Dolly…read moreherself, but meeting the incredible women who now run the house was one of the highlights of our visit. Their passion, knowledge, and energy are absolutely amazing and really bring the history to life. Walking through the house feels like stepping into a different era. It's truly a pause in time, preserving a glimpse of when things were built, crafted, and cared for with remarkable attention to detail. Every room tells a story. What surprised us most was learning about Dolly Arthur's impact on Ketchikan. Despite being judged by many during her lifetime because of her profession, she played a significant role in preserving Creek Street. When the city considered demolishing much of the historic district, Dolly's House remained, helping spark interest in preserving the area's unique history and character. Today, Creek Street is one of Ketchikan's most beloved attractions, and it's amazing to think that one woman had such an important role in protecting a piece of the town's heritage. We were genuinely amazed by the lasting impact Dolly had on the preservation of Creek Street and the history of Ketchikan. It's a powerful reminder that people are often far more than the labels society places on them. We highly recommend visiting! The tour is fairly quick, but we absolutely loved every minute of it. Just keep in mind that the house discusses adult themes and the history of a former brothel, so this may be one to skip with younger kiddos. If you stop by, tell them Kissa & Colby from Doody Destination sent you!

    Not sure about all the hype. It is historical. Interesting to see. Not worth $10 to walk through a…read moredining room, kitchen, hallway, stairs, bedroom, peek in at the washrooms, then out the second floor onto patio with stairs to the boardwalk.

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    Dolly's House Museum & Gift Shop
    Dolly's House Museum & Gift Shop - Clothes closet

    Clothes closet

    Dolly's House Museum & Gift Shop - Dolly's House Toir

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    Dolly's House Toir

    Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show - Chainsaw

    Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

    4.4(186 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Visited Ketchikan on May 8, 2026, via the Norwegian Encore that docks at Ward Cove…read more The show has 2 performance areas one on Spruce Mill Way Downton, and in Ward Cove that is accessed via transports across rocky rough roads, you can see the Norwegian ships docked but it's not a friendly path for those with mobility issues without aided transportation. As for the show, for Alaska it is bargain priced, entertaining, with good family friendly humor. Saw numerous eagles above us during the show, and it was another dry day, though a bit chilly so I was happy to be wearing my insulated coat and gloves in the covered seats. I did think of the performers who after taking a dunk in cold water where interacting with the guests and taking pictures with them at the end of the show. Overall a great experience.

    The axe throwing and lumberjack show are 10 star services and are absolutely worth viewing for…read moreyourself, I cannot say enough good things about them. However the organization getting to this show is -7. The events are great and I don't want to spoil anything, the organization I want to discuss. I have never see anything so bad ever! There is 3 lines going at once axe throwing, the show, and crab eating. The women making these lines absolutely have no idea what they are doing and can't keep track of what line goes where. I don't know if they know what they're doing or just don't care, but this HAS to change!

    Photos
    Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show - Pre show warmup

    Pre show warmup

    Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show - Feats of blender and strength

    Feats of blender and strength

    Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show - Excellent carved bunny

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    Excellent carved bunny

    Saxman Totem Park - culturalcenter - Updated June 2026

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