by Dennis Augustine
After a peaceful night on the open water, Cecile and I awoke to a mystical scene—smokey clouds draped like silk over emerald-green mountains, as our ship pulled gently into our first port: Ketchikan.
Known as Alaska’s First City, Ketchikan, the oldest town in Southeast Alaska, earned its name from the Tlingit word Kichx̱áan, thought to mean “the spread wings of an eagle.”
Its rich tapestry is woven from indigenous Tlingit culture, the legacy of gold rush dreams, and its world-renowned salmon industry. In fact, it was once dubbed the “Salmon Capital of the World”—a title still proudly worn today.
Historic Creek Street, once a red-light district perched on stilts above the water, now offers charming shops and tales of the town’s colorful past. Totem poles—the largest collection anywhere in the world—stand proudly, telling stories that have echoed through generations.
