Ketchikan in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

Houses of Heritage

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 2, 2026

1. Houses of Heritage Marker

Inscription.
Clan members return to their clan houses for the winter after spending the rest of the year at hunting, fishing and berry picking camps. Clan houses not only protect against weather and enemies, they also provide a framework for this complex society.

It All Depends
Clan houses bustle with the daily life of large extended families. Every Tlingit and Haida is in one of two groups called moieties. At birth, they become the same moiety as their mother for the rest of their lives; here they are of either Raven or Eagle moiety. A person’s moiety, rank and their relationship to the head of the house determines if they can live there, where they may sleep, and possibly if they had any responsibility in the clan house’s construction.

Clans, Crests and Canoes
There might be several clan houses in a village with 20 to 50 people living in each one. A carved clan crest of the presiding male adorns a clan house post or panel. House names like Eagle Nest House or Sun House came from these clan crests. Usually each house had a canoe or two on the beach to access their exclusive fishing, hunting and berry picking sites.

Topics. This historical

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marker is listed in this topic list: Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 55° 25.2′ N, 131° 46.369′ W. Marker is in Ketchikan, Alaska, in Ketchikan Gateway Borough. It can be reached from Totem Bight Road. Marker is located in Totem Bight State Historical Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9883 North Tongass Highway, Ketchikan AK 99901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Alaska,

in Tlingit and Haida & Tsimshian Region.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Look Into the Clan House (here, next to this marker); Clan House Construction (here, next to this marker); Preserving the Past (here, next to this marker); Aging in the Elements (here, next to this marker); Transforming Trees

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 2, 2026

2. Houses of Heritage Marker

Several markers are at this location. The Houses of Heritage marker is seen here in the middle.

(a few steps from this marker); Original Artists (a few steps from this marker); Continuing the Cycle (a few steps from this marker); Understanding Totem Poles (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ketchikan.

More about this marker. Pictures of the outside and inside of the clan house appear on the marker.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 2, 2026

3. Clan House

Totem Inside Clan House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 2, 2026

4. Totem Inside Clan House

This clan crest inside the clan house reflects that of the presiding male of the clan.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2026, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 15, 2026, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.