Ketchikan is the totem pole capital of Alaska. There are three major collections of totem poles in the area, but Saxman Village is considered the most authentic, and its 28 totem poles comprise one of the largest collections in the world.

The first totems were carved from cedar trees and used in ceremonies of families and clans in Alaska and British Columbia. They were carved to represent the emblem of the family and its history.

Totem carvings tell a story, but the meaning of many totem poles becomes lost with time. Totems have ... (more)