Ketchikan holds the distinction of being Alaska’s first city. It’s actually an island accessible only be ferry. Even flight passengers have to cross the water to get into town. My first vision of the town was early this morning out of our sliding glass door windows. It was an eerie sight of gray skies, mist, and fog, giving it a haunted appearance. A few hours after arriving, I was up and on the treadmill looking across at Main Street before departing for our tour. A bus took us along the waterfront, while the tour guide entertained us with jokes and stories about the fascinating history of the area. 

Totem poles define their culture. These carved monoliths, some taller than 40 feet, are filled with folklore about the ravens, whales, fish, eagles, and bears that coexisted with the Native American founders and spot painted with the traditional colors of red, black, turquois, and yellow. Our first stop was at Potlatch Park featuring a large clan house with a fire pit, smoke hole, and thatched roof covered with plants, trees, and moss. There is also a carving center, whale bones, and cedar animal sculptures. These amazing structures could be moved to “greener pastures” when food got scarce. Each totem pole was fashioned around an Indian legend and you could visualize these stories being told around the fire. 

My wife spent a couple of hours downtown at the gift shop after the bus returned to the ship. After seeing an eagle and walking along muddy pathways, I had enough of nature for the day and viewed the surroundings from our cabin. The downtown area is complete with a mountain stream where the seals play and the fish jump. We watched another movie in the room just before the ship began to move towards the state capital of Juneau, our next rainy port.