Penn's Landing in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Totem Pole
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Totem
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Gyaá.aáng
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 12, 2025
1. Totem Pole / Totem / Gyaá.aáng Marker
Totem Pole
Wood
20' 9" high
Stainless Steel Pedestal
7' 3" high
Late 19th century
Massett, Queen Charlotte Island, British Columbia, Canada
The center totem pole is a distinctive feature of the Indians of the Pacific coast of Canada. The Northwest Coast Indians carved several different kinds of poles. Inside their houses carved posts supported the roof. Outside, or attached to the front of the building, were frontal poles carved with myths or symbols of the family. A third kind of pole contained the coffin of the dead.
This very fine totem pole is thought to be a memorial column, which would have been erected in front of a row of houses in the village. Memorial poles were carved with animals, indicating the social position of the man in whose memory it was carved.
The carved forms interlock, for example, the sea lion at the very bottom is between the legs of the mother bear, who can be identified by her large mouth and protruding tongue. Between the ears of the mother bear is her cub, which is also surrounded by the wings of the raven sitting on its head. Above the raven is a human figure wearing a dance hat with four skyls, or cylinders, which are symbols of his wealth.
Lent to the Fairmount Park Art Association by the University Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; acquired 1977
6m 23cm
Piédestal en acier inoxydable
2m 18cm
Fin 19ième siecle
Massett, Iles Reine-Cahrlotte, Colombie-Britannique, Canada
Ce totem en cedre est caracteristique de la culture des Indiens de la côte pacifique du Canada. Les Indiens de la côte nord-oest sculptaient plusíeurs sortes de totems. A l'interieur, ou attaches au fronton de l'edifice, se trouvaíen des totems representant les mythes ou les symboles de la famille. Une troisieme sorte de totem conenaient le ceurcueil des morts.
On pense que ce magnifique totem est une colonne commemorative qui devait être erigee devant un alignement de maisons dans le village. Les totems commémoratifs sont sculptes d'animaux, indiquant la position sociale de l'homme en la memoire de qui le totem a été sculpté.
Le sculptures s'entrelacent; par exemple, l'otarie tou á fait en bas est entre les pattes de la mere ours, celle-ci identifiable par sa large gueule et se langue en saillie. Entre les oreilles de la mere ours se trouve son ourson, lui-même entoure par les ailes du corbeau pose sure sa tête. Au-dessus du corbeau, se trouve une tête d'home portant un coirffure de dance avec quatre "skyls", ou cylindres, qui sont les symboles de sa fortune.
Prêté à l'Association du Park Fairmount par le Musée de l'Université de Philadelphie, Phennsylvanie; acquis en 1977.
Gyaá.aáng
st'a k'iitlaa.aliisdangdluu janggang.
gin7inggu hlgihlandaas ya.at'saagang.
7waagyaan st'ak'iijagwa.aadluu janggang.
aajiigyaa tadee tlaa.aliitlaa.ahlduu iijang.
g̱awaa (Masset), Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C., Canada.
Git'uuyaads isgyaan kilaat isgyaan xaadas isgyaan hlangas hanisan, ahlsgee hanis gyaaaang k'iidangaan. Xaadas gyaaangaa gut7ilaaw g̱iidang. Anaa gyaaaang na t'iits g̱aa sg̱unuu nee nee unuu 7waaahl kitgadaadagaangaan. Waagyaan na k'iwkw is gyaaaang iijaangaan. Nee nan daaas gee gyaagageeuu iijaangaan gyaan t'laa kunaast gin g̱iidaangaan gyaaahlangee 7waaaa iijaangaan.
Waagyaan nang k'ut'ahl salyaa is gyaaaang t'la tlaawhlagaangaan. Aasgee nang k'ut'alaa salyaa tlaawhlee g̱an its gee 7laagang. T'la k'ut'ahlgaa salyaa gyaaaang is 7waadluaan k'aduu gyaaanggaangaan. Nang k'ut'aalaan gyaa g̱asiiuu 7waaaa iijaangaan. Saa ga its gee g̱an sg̱unuu gyaaaan t'la talawhlagaangaan. Gyaaangee k'ulguu kay daaangeeuu iijang, taan jaadaa k'uluu g̱aaadaa aa.
,br> Waagyaan taanee xahliiiisduu t'aangal sk'ajuut'laaaang. 7la gyuu gaaadaauu 7la giidii iijang.
Waagyaan giidii kats ingguu is yaahl k'awaang. Waagvaan kunguu nang iit'laakdaas k'awaang. Sgil dajang g̱aa7la gut'assuu sgil skaastansanguu ingkw 7laa iijang, 7waaahl 7la iit'laakdaas g̱an t'la unsadee g̱an aa.
Erected by Fairmount
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Arts, Letters, Music • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 1977.
Location. 39° 56.712′ N, 75° 8.469′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Penn's Landing. It can be reached from the intersection of South Christopher Columbus Boulevard and Dock Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 S Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Figures of Court Officials
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 12, 2025
2. Totem Pole / Totem / Gyaá.aáng Marker
The sculpture has been removed, but the interpretive plaque remains.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 14, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 128 times since then and 105 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 14, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
