Totem Heritage Center facts for kids
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| Established | 1976 |
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| Location | 601 Deermount Street, Ketchikan, Alaska |
| Collection size | 33 totem poles |
The Totem Heritage Center is a special museum in Ketchikan, Alaska. It opened in 1976. This center helps keep old traditions and art alive. It is run by the city of Ketchikan. The place where the center stands was added to a list of important historical sites in 1971. This list is called the National Register of Historic Places.
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Discovering the Totem Heritage Center
The Totem Heritage Center was created in 1976. Its main goal is to protect and share amazing totem poles. It also serves as a place where people can learn about different cultures.
What You Can See
The museum has 33 totem poles in its collection. Sixteen of these poles are always on display for visitors to see. The other poles are kept safe for people who want to study them.
The center also shows other cool items and art. These pieces come from the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures. You can even see art by famous artists like Nathan Jackson, who is a Tlingit carver. There are also works by Delores Churchill, a well-known Haida weaver.
Weaving Traditions
In 1990, a special group called the Ravenstail Weaver's Guild started at the center. This group helped bring back the art of Ravenstail weaving. This type of weaving was almost forgotten. The guild helped both Native and non-Native artists in the United States and Canada learn and share this craft.
About the Center's Collection
The Totem Heritage Center is home to one of the biggest collections of 19th-century totem poles in the world. These poles are "unrestored," meaning they look much like they did when they were first found.
Where the Totem Poles Came From
These special poles were found in old, empty villages. They came from Tlingit settlements on Village Island and Tongass Island. They also came from the Haida village of Old Kasaan. These places are located south of Ketchikan.
Learning and Creating Art
The Totem Heritage Center is more than just a museum. It also works to keep the traditional arts of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people alive. They do this through art classes and other fun activities. These classes are open all year round. The museum welcomes visitors throughout the year, with longer hours in the summer months.
See also
