Museums & Attractions
Ketchikan offers a wide range of museums and attractions that make it easy to learn, explore, and have fun. From local history and Alaska Native culture to natural science and outdoor heritage, there is something for every interest and every age.
Industries That Shaped Ketchikan
Ketchikan was built around the natural resources of Southeast Alaska, with salmon and timber playing the largest roles in the community’s growth. Commercial fishing, canneries, logging, and maritime industries supported generations of families and helped shape the town’s economy and identity. Mining also contributed to early development, with copper, marble, and other minerals leaving their mark on the region.
Today, museums, exhibits, and historic displays throughout Ketchikan share these stories through photographs, tools, artifacts, and personal accounts. Visitors can learn how commercial fishing led Ketchikan to become known as the “Canned Salmon Capital of the World,” and how logging, boat building, and maritime work supported daily life along the Inside Passage. Together, these stories highlight the close connection between industry, landscape, and community.
Ketchikan’s Colorful Past
Ketchikan’s history includes colorful and sometimes gritty chapters that reflect its early frontier days. Exhibits at the Tongass Historical Museum and interpretive sites throughout town explore the people, businesses, and events that shaped the community during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Along Ketchikan Creek, historic buildings recall Creek Street’s past as a lively red light district that once served miners, fishermen, loggers, and other early residents. Today, these preserved structures provide insight into the social history of the era while offering a glimpse into how the town evolved over time.
Totem Poles and Alaska Native Heritage
Ketchikan is home to one of the largest collections of standing totem poles in the world. Poles can be seen throughout town, in designated totem parks, and at the Totem Heritage Center, which helps preserve and interpret these important cultural works.
Together, these sites highlight the artistry, history, and cultural traditions of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people. Through carving, design, and storytelling, totem poles continue to share family histories, clan stories, and cultural values that remain deeply rooted in Southeast Alaska today.
Rainforest, Wildlife, and Natural History
The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center offers interactive exhibits focused on the Tongass rainforest, regional wildlife, and land use in Southeast Alaska. Displays explore how people have lived, worked, and recreated in the world’s largest temperate rainforest, while highlighting the importance of conservation and stewardship.
The center also features a small theater that screens short films about Ketchikan and the surrounding region, including the Tongass National Forest, providing an easy way to learn more before heading out to explore.
Explore at Your Own Pace
There is plenty to see and do throughout Ketchikan’s historic downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Pick up a free Historic Ketchikan Walking Tour Map and explore at your own pace. Maps are available at the Visit Ketchikan Visitor Centers located on the docks at Berth 2 and Berth 3. Visitors can also download the Historic Ketchikan Walking Tour app, available for both Android and Apple iOS.