Ten miles north of Ketchikan, Totem Bight State Park sits on the east bank of the Tongass Narrows. First established in 1938 to reconstruct totem poles and a clan house characteristic of the Tlingit and Haida cultures, the site was then known as Mud Bight (referring to a natural indentation in the bank of the waterway).
Today, a short trail leads through a woodland and past 14 totem poles, most of which overlook the Narrows. The Clan House is open to visitors, as is a Restoration Building, where poles are carved or repaired. A brochure explains the symbolism represented on the poles and guided tours are offered. In one area, damaged or corroded poles are left to rot on the ground in keeping with the Native Peoples tradition of recycling life from the old to the new.
Since evolving in Africa some 140,000 years ago, we humans have colonized most regions of the globe. Part of nature, we cannot fully understand her ecosystems without learning about the roles we have played. Totem Bight State Park offers some interesting insight in that regard, especially as it pertains to the Pacific Northwest.
Today, a short trail leads through a woodland and past 14 totem poles, most of which overlook the Narrows. The Clan House is open to visitors, as is a Restoration Building, where poles are carved or repaired. A brochure explains the symbolism represented on the poles and guided tours are offered. In one area, damaged or corroded poles are left to rot on the ground in keeping with the Native Peoples tradition of recycling life from the old to the new.
Since evolving in Africa some 140,000 years ago, we humans have colonized most regions of the globe. Part of nature, we cannot fully understand her ecosystems without learning about the roles we have played. Totem Bight State Park offers some interesting insight in that regard, especially as it pertains to the Pacific Northwest.
