Ketchikan

     The Tlingit people originally settled this area as a summer fishing camp, where five different species of salon spawned every year.  The Natives called it :Kitchsk-him" which means Kitchsk's stream.  This word sounds much like another Tlingit word which translates to mean "Thundering Wings of an Eagle," and is often sited as the origin of the work Ketchikan.  Locals agree that Kitchsk's stream is the true translation.

     Until the late 1880s, most of the non-Native people who arrived in the Ketchikan area were sailors, explorers, and traders who bartered with the natives and then moved on.  The early 1900s were a boom time for Ketchikan, along with the rest of Alaska.  Gold was discovered in nearby hills and on Prince of Wales Island, and copper was discovered a short time later.  Ketchikan quickly became the supply center for all the mines in the surrounding area.

     By the mid-1930's, Ketchikan had aptly named itself "The Salmon Capital of the World."  In 1936 alone, the city packed more than 1.5 million cases of salmon.  During World War II, Ketchikan was the site of a major United States Coast Guard base and housed more than 750 enlisted men and officers.

     Today, Ketchikan is a popular tourist destination.  It is known as "The Gateway to Alaska" because it is the first stop for ships headed north along the Inside Passage.  The abundance of Native cultural icons attracts visitors from around the world.  Ketchikan includes the world's oldest collection of totem poles at Totem Heritage Center and at Totem Bight Historical Park.  The Haida, Tlingit, and Tsimshian are all a part of the city's colorful history, and contributed to Ketchikan being named one of the Top 100 Small Arts Communities in the United States.

     The Ketchikan International Airport is located on Gravina Island, three miles outside of town.  A ferry must be taken from the mainland to reach the airport.  The cost is $5.00 each way.

     There are approximately 16 to 18 hours of daylight during the summer months and the daytime temperatures are in the mid 60s to 70s.  The average rainfall is 162 inches, and it rains almost 240 days a year.