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Ketchikan, Alaska Port Reviews
How to Visit Totem Bight State Park
and Saxman Native Village On Your Own
By Tom Ogg
Totem Bight State Historical Park
The ship
that I was on was selling an optional tour to Totem Bight
State Historical Park that also included a visit to the
Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan (next to the Fish
Hatchery) for $82.00 and a tour to Saxman Native Village for
$62.00. Here is how to do both of these attractions for a
total of $6.00. Yup, you will save $138.00, see more and
have more fun. Here is how to do it On Your Own.
Look For This Sign
Ketchikan
has a vibrant local population that uses the bus to get
everywhere. Because of this, the bus service in Ketchikan is
excellent. There are three lines different line, but we are
only concerned with two of them.
The Blue Line Bus
The Blue
Line operates from Ketchikan north to Totem Bight State
Historical Park.
The Red
Line operates south to Saxman Native Village (and beyond)
The bus
costs $1.00 to ride and transfers are free. If you are 65 or
older, the cost is only $.50 per ride. To access both parks
simply catch the northbound bus in front of the city hall
and ride it to Totem Bight State Historical Park. When you
are done exploring the park simply ride the Blue Line back
into Ketchikan, request a transfer and hen take the Red Line
to Saxman Village. When you are done exploring Saxman
Village, grab the next bus back to Ketchikan. Since there is
no entrance fee to enter Totem Bight National Historical
Park, the only cost is the $1.00 bus fare there and back to
Ketchikan. Since you travel on a transfer to Saxman Native
Village the only cost is the $3.00 entrance fee and then the
$1.00 bus fare back to Ketchikan. This brings the total cost
to $6.00. Note, that I walked back from Saxman Village and
it only took me about 40 minutes and was very enjoyable.
Buses run approximately every hour. You can obtain a bus
schedule at City Hall or on the bus. Here is what you will
see.
The Totem Bight State
Historical Park Headquarters.
The bus
will drop you right in front of the park headquarters near
the entrance to the park. Simply follow the signs to find
your way.
The Totem Bight State
Historical Park Visitor Center and Gift Shop
The Visitor
Center and gift shop are right next to the entrance trail to
the park. The shop offers several books, some snacks and
other souvenirs of interest. Here are some pictures of the
various totemn poles that you will see.
The Clanhouse
At the
center of the park is the clanhouse. This was the home for
several families of the same lineage.
Inside the Clanhouse
The
families would share the common fire in the center of the
clanhouse and each family had their own area. They would
store their belongings underneath the floor and hang food
from the rafters.
A Totem Under Construction by the Clanhouse
Totems were
carved next to the Clanhouse and placed in the surrounding
forest when they were completed. Each totem has a
significant meaning, which would represent the specific clan
that created it.
Totem Bight State
Historical Park Forest
The reason
Totem Bight State Historical Park is so popular is because
of its natural setting. Located right on the ocean in a
beautiful forest, the park is a pleasure to visit. Even if
you have only a casual interest in the totem poles, you will
love the overall experience.
The Blue Line Bus
Once you
are done at the Totem Bight State Historical Park simply
return to the park headquarters and grab the Blue Line bus
back into Ketchikan. The bus ride itself is quite
interesting, as it follows the Tongass Highway all the way
in with several stops. The distance between Ketchikan and
the park is about 10 miles and will take about 20 minutes to
travel.
Saxman Native Village
If you
intend to continue to Saxman Village, be sure to request a
transfer for the Red Line bus and ask the river to drop you
where the bus stops. Jump on the Red Line bus and get
off in front of Saxman Native Village. It is located about 2
1/2 miles south of Ketchikan,
One of the Saxman Native
Village Totems
The price
to enter Saxman and take pictures is $3.00 per person.
Unless you are with one of the organized tours you probably
will not see any dancing or shows that are put on here. What
you see in the overview of Saxman Native Village is just
about the entire thing.
The Clanhouse
Exploring
Saxman Native Village does not take a long time, but is
interesting nonetheless. Since the bus generally comes by
every hour, you might consider walking back into Ketchikan.
I did this on my last visit and felt that the walk back was
more rewarding than the visit to Saxman Native Village.
Plus, you save $1.00 by walking VBG. |
