Museums in Ketchikan
Ketchikan's museums cluster close together downtown. The standout is the Totem Heritage Center, which holds one of the world's largest collections of unrestored 19th-century totem poles. The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center and the Tongass Historical Museum are close by and make good companions on a rainy afternoon.
Places to go
Totem Heritage Center
Totem Heritage Center is a museum at 601 Deermount Street that holds one of the world's largest collections of unrestored 19th-century totem poles. Visitors also see Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian art and watch carvers at work.
Southeast Alaska Discovery Center
A Forest Service visitor center in downtown Ketchikan, with exhibits on the Tongass rainforest, native cultures and wildlife. A good first stop in town.
Tours to book
Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
What to expect
The Totem Heritage Center is the main reason to come. It keeps one of the world's largest collections of unrestored 19th-century totem poles, and sixteen of its thirty-three poles are on permanent display. The rest are kept for research. The poles were recovered from Tlingit and Haida villages in the region, and the center also keeps the living artistic traditions of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples in view.
The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center is at 50 Main Street. It has interactive exhibits on the Tongass rainforest, regional wildlife and land use, and a 200-seat theater that shows award-winning films about the coastal rainforest. The Tongass Historical Museum, at 629 Dock Street, covers the people, businesses and events that shaped Ketchikan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the town's canned salmon history.
Where to go
Getting there
When to go
Summer brings lighter rain and warmer days, and the Totem Heritage Center opens more days then. Ketchikan is very rainy at any time of year, so the indoor museums make a good plan for a wet day.
Good to know
- Totem Heritage Center charges an entry fee; the Tongass Historical Museum charges a small fee in summer only.
- Check the Totem Heritage Center's opening days before you walk over, since it keeps shorter hours outside summer.
- Pack rain gear and a layer, since weather in Ketchikan can change quickly.
Questions
Is the Totem Heritage Center worth visiting in Ketchikan?
Yes, for many visitors it is the main museum stop. It holds one of the world's largest collections of unrestored 19th-century totem poles. It charges a fee and opens on more days in summer.
What is there to do in Ketchikan on a rainy day?
The museums give you indoor options. The Discovery Center's theater shows award-winning films about the rainforest, and the Tongass Historical Museum covers local history. Creek Street and its shops are also close by.
