Ketchikan in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)
Chief Johnson Totem Pole
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2012
1. Chief Johnson Totem Pole Marker
Totem poles are carved to honor deceased ancestors, record history, social events, and oral tradition. They were never worshipped as religious objects.
This totem, carved by Israel Shotridge and raised in 1989, is a replica of the Chief Johnson, or Kajuk, Totem Pole raised in this general location in 1901 for the Ganaxadi Tlingit of the Raven moiety of the Tanta Kwan (Tongass) group. The original memorial pole stood until 1982.
Except for Kajuk atop the pole, the figures symbolize a single story about Raven. Fog Woman is identified with the summer salmon run when fog lies at the mouth of streams. She produces all salmon and causes them to return to the creeks of their birth.
Visit Ketchikan’s other totem poles, and the only National Landmark collection of old, original totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center, 601 Deermount Street
Erected by City of Ketchikan Museum Department.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Arts, Letters, Music • Native Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1989.
Location. 55° 20.519′ N, 131° 38.564′ W. Marker is in Ketchikan, Alaska, in Ketchikan Gateway Borough. Marker is at the intersection
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 'Cat' Houses & Sporting Women (within shouting distance of this marker); In Defiance of the Dry Squad (within shouting distance of this marker); Star House (within shouting distance of this marker); Sea and Skyline (within shouting distance of this marker); Carving a Place in History (within shouting distance of this marker); Crossing a Frontier (within shouting distance of this marker); Ketchikan Shingle Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Chief Kyan Totem Pole (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ketchikan.
Also see . . . The Chief Johnson Totem Pole.
The Chief Johnson totem pole stands 55' tall and is carved from a single western red cedar log! When the Chief Johnson pole was raised, it was the first authentic totem pole to be carved & raised in downtown Ketchikan in over 50 years. Many tribal elders & members came from throughout the Northwest for the raising and feast and were treated to a traditional salmon dinner with dancing and speeches. (Submitted on December 17, 2014, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2012
2. Chief Johnson Totem Pole (detail view)
Photographed By Frank G. Carpenter, April 27, 1919
3. Totem Pole, Ketchikan, Alaska
The original Chief Johnson Totem Pole. Photo courtesy Library of Congress.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 16, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2014, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,211 times since then and 146 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 17, 2014, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3. submitted on December 20, 2014. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
