Fortunately for us, none of that was happening as we began
our walk through the town of Ketchikan. We headed for Creek Street where we
knew we would see the Ketchikan Creek where so many salmon swim each year in their
quest to find their spawning grounds. As we neared the beginning of the street,
we could see the river/creek full of salmon. If you could have walked on their
backs, you could have crossed the 20-30 foot width of the creek without ever
getting your feet wet.
Further up Creek Street, there is a salmon ladder which if
chosen by the salmon is a much easier way up the creek than by jumping the
frothy rapids. The ladder is actually a series of chutes that the salmon can
swim up through without expending as much energy and risking life and limb
against the rocks. Still many were trying the traditional route, jumping up
stream. We didn’t see any make it while we were watching.
The salmon are what originally attracted the Tingit people
to this area where they established a summer fishing camp. In 1883 a man known
as Snow opened the first salmon saltery and as they say, the rest is history.
In the late 19th century, gold and copper were
discovered in the surrounding mountains and Ketchikan flourished as a place to
replenish supplies. A timber industry was also established in the area and
Ketchikan continued to grow to become Alaska’s sixth largest city.
There is an abundance of things to see and do in the area
including floatplane tours (we sat and watched them take off and land all
afternoon), fishing, kayaking, hiking, the Totem Bight Stat Park where you can
glimpse the Tingit and Haida Indian cultures and learn about totem poles,
Saxman Native Village-another place to see the Indian culture and art, the
Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, the Misty Fjords National Monument, the Great
American Lumberjack Show, the George Inlet Lodge where you can learn about the
salmon, and of course Creek Street.
One last thing about Creek Street. It was infamous for its
thirty or more brothels. Dolly’s House was one of them and is now a museum. There is supposed to be a sign that indicated
that man and salmon both headed in the same direction to spawn but somehow I
missed it. Maybe on our next visit I’ll find it.
[Note: One of the things we discovered is that the port of
calls in Alaska have all become much more commercialized than we remember. If you
don’t get an excursion booked from your ship, there will be plenty of chances
on shore.]
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