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!

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 absolutely loved Creek Street! It was an easy, convenient walk from the cruise ship port, and…read moreeven though it rained all day, we still had a blast exploring the shops and taking in the beautiful creekside views. The whole area has such a fun, vintage feel, with so many unique little stores and photo spots. We highly recommend checking out Dolly's House, which also gives some great history about the area and how it helped preserve its character. There is also a free town trolley that can take you around, with pickup near the museum. We found some of the most unique gifts and souvenirs here. Definitely worth visiting for an afternoon walk, shopping, and great photos!

Creek street is where all the action is. While standing at the bridge, I saw a seal but could not…read moreget my husband's attention get a picture of it cruising up the creek. It was so graceful and beautiful to watch. The street is one of Ketchikan's most famous attractions. It has a wooden boardwalk that sits on stilts above the water that winds its way past colorful shops and homes. Today, the street is full of shops selling souvenirs, handmade goods, and other one-of-a-kind, Alaskan-made wares. It was once the red-light district. Don't miss Dolly's House - a former "house of ill repute," which is now a museum dedicated to what Creek Street used to be. Be sure to check out the salmon run and ladder near the end of Married Man's Trail, where you can watch salmon swimming upstream. Unfortunately, we were too early in the season to see any salmon. It's a great place for photos.

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.

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.

Saxman Native Village is a pretty neat place to learn about Native culture and the meanings behind…read morethe totem pole carvings and colors. There wasn't much walking involved, which was nice, and we also got to experience a wonderful cultural dance performance inside the Beaver Clan House. Such a unique and meaningful experience. The only downside was that our guide was difficult to hear at times, which made parts of the tour a little frustrating since the information being shared was so interesting.

this was an amazing park. We took a lot of pictures. The totem poles were beautiful and very tall…read moreand colorful. our tour guide was very knowledgeable, friendly very thankful that she did amazing.

This was interesting. And the views were pretty. But if you have limited time, this could be…read moreskipped. We rode public transit about ($2/person) but it took us about 30 minutes each way. Spent less than an hour, which is more than enough time. The bus only runs through every hour on the '7' - so don't miss it. Overall, I was underwhelmed given the hype. $5/person entry fee. I would have been really annoyed if I had purchased an excursion package for this for $79 per person.

Date of visit: July 19, 2025…read more This was a stop on an excursion from our cruise and it was very interesting, with a great setting right on the water, making for a great picture backdrop. The park does have a $5 entry fee per person May through September, so you may want to weigh that fact if you don't have a great interest in totem poles! If you do go, make sure you check out the Clan House and notice the storage underneath your feet as literally dozens of people would sleep in this facility at the same time. Coming with a guide may be your best bet as parking is limited and someone who knows the stories adds much more color to the experience.

Great team, fantastic facility and oh the views! Long walk from downtown so get a ride!read more

One of my pleasures are visting public libraries from different parts of the world. I came to…read moreKetchikan on a cruise ship and found their library online. It is a ten to twenty minute walk from the dock which doesn't feel like a long time as there are plenty of nature to see going there. The views from this library are spectacular and the inside is so clean and orderly. There are study rooms and different sections to read and do activites in such as a "teen" seating area, children's corner, MPR, western area (great views!), etc. They have plenty of books, CDs and DVDs to look through. The librarian was nice and offered me a free wfi code to use. If you are visiting I highly reccommend making time to see their public library and get to know some history of Ketchikan.

My favorite art gallery in Ketchikan! I've been there on two occasions during Alaska cruises, and…read moreboth times I was blown away by how many unique pieces there are. No matter what you're looking for, whether for yourself or for a gift, you'll find what you want here, with all sizes, mediums, and price points. On our last visit last week I had the pleasure to meet the artist's daughter Kathy, and she patiently took the time to find the beautiful owl that I was searching for. I know this is a piece I won't find anywhere else. Don't miss this very special store, kitty-corner from Tongass Trading Company on Front Street!

What an amazing place. If you are looking for something special for yourself or for a gift that…read moredoesn't smack of 'I bought this at a local tourists shop'...this is the place to buy it. The carvings, handmade jewelry, and sculptures are awesome! You feel like you are walking through a museum rather than a local retail store. We couldn't resist the opportunity to buy a few beautiful quality pieces at very very reasonable prices. Everything is made by the Artist himself. If nothing else...do yourself a favor and take the time to walk through the shop...you will be totally impressed!

This park was covered as part of the tour we purchased onshore, I assume it's included as part of…read morethe cruise ship offered tours as well but it's always cheaper to buy a tour directly off the ship. Park is decent sized with several totem poles, a totem pole carving workshop, native clan houses, some vintage cars and a gift shop. Due to the abundant rain Ketchikan is blessed with, this park is covered in lush greenery. You definitely need a guide to help explain the history behind the totem poles, the clan houses and all the other stories. On the whole it will take less than an hour to cover the entire park. The gift store is great as well and surprisingly very reasonably priced compared to the other touristy places. They had several totem poles in various sizes on sale in addition to the regular tourist store items.

With a knowledgeable guide, we came here as part of a cruise tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable…read moreexplaining the meanings of the totem symbols, such as the Eagle versus the Raven. A potlatch is a ceremonial gathering, like a big party, and the clan's totem pole shows how many potlatches they have been involved with. Enjoyed seeing the small circular doors to the living quarters that would force any unwelcome visitors to stoop down to get through the opening - allowing them to be easily attacked. There is a large gift shop, and a clan house. We did not see any old cars but possibly our guide simply omitted that part of the tour. Those coming without a guide are at a bit of a disadvantage, as I could see no interpretive displays near the totem poles explaining what you were seeing. This is also a cruise ship destination and there were numerous cruise ship groups tramping through the park along with us, affecting the experience. Lots of delays as we had to wait for several groups to clear out before we could go onto the next part of the tour. The crowds also made taking photographs difficult.

Alaskan cruise, stop in Ketchikan. I saw a bunch of videos that talked about the t-shirt vending…read moremachine. i LOVE that proceeds to the t-shirts go back to the community. Hubby got a shirt, i wish i got one for myself and the kids. next time. Hubby says that the shirt is comfortable, and it is a pretty good quality, heavy material.

I went to the popular vending machine to get ny shirt!! Fast and easy the museum is small but lots…read moretoo see. Love visting the local fire dept in ketchikan