Called “Alaska’s First City,” perhaps because it is the first port cruise ships visit on their way up the Inside Passage, Ketchikan is the southernmost city in Alaska. Located 700 miles north of Seattle and 235 miles south of Juneau, Ketchikan is known for its rainy skies, lush island setting, and abundance of totem poles.
On the day we visited (Sunday, May 22nd) the shore excursion guides exclaimed about our good fortune – we enjoyed clear skies and no rain while we were there.
Carrieanna and I were also fortunate to have our own private driver and guide through the Saxman Village Totem Park.
Our accessible van with hydraulic lift, to transport Carrieanna in her scooter.
Our driver, Austin, secured the scooter inside the van
He then drove us through Ketchikan, sharing a little of the city’s history and pointing out interesting landmarks as we traveled the 2.5 miles to Saxman Village Totem Park.
Gravel pathways, with a slight incline, were easy for Carrieanna to navigate.
Austin explained the significance of the Beaver Clan House …
… and then relayed the story told by the two smaller totem poles in the foreground.
As noted on the Alaska.org website, “The 25 totems here are authentic replicas of original poles that were left in abandoned villages as Native Alaskans moved into more populated cities.”
Accessibility
The entire park was accessible by wheelchair or mobility scooter, allowing Carrieanna to see all of the totem poles. The gift shop (not shown) was also easy for her to navigate.
And we were very impressed by our guide, Austin, who was helpful, knowledgeable, gracious and attentive.
All photos: ©2016 ImagesByRJM
Anything Is Possible Travel 
2 replies on “Saxman Village Totem Park in Ketchikan, Alaska”
This article is so helpful to understand how they work. And provide the service that they promised.
LikeLike
[…] Carrieanna and I enjoyed our “private tour” of the Saxman Village Totem Park, we returned to the main part of town for another, more rowdy experience – the Great Alaskan […]
LikeLike