Day 3, Ketchikan, Alaska, USA
This was our first time docking on this cruise and getting off the ship on this Alaskan cruise. We were pretty excited.
I was all ready and got all my clothes ready the night before. This is Alaska so we need to be well prepared for the weather.
I was up by 6am.
Looking out of the balcony of our cabin, I saw high mountains ranges covered in dense green forests with their tops shrouded by misty clouds.
As our ship approaching the shore of Ketchikan, the first city of Alaska, it dawn on me that my travel dream of visiting Alaska, North America’s furthest state, has been realized.
We had only from 7 a.m - 2 p.m in Ketchikan, Alaska.
We were glad that from where our cruise ship had docked, it was just steps away from downtown Ketchikan, Alaska.
The visitors’ centre located right at the dock gave out good maps and clear information of where to go
around town.
We followed the map and our first stop was Creek Street – the most
infamous red light district of Ketchikan.
The creek that runs along this town of about 9000 residents was the hub of the Tlingit people, one of the five main tribes of the native people living in Alaska, who used to gather here each summer as their fishing camp.
Walking along the creek, we saw numerous fish swimming below the shallow clear water!
This is a pretty part of the town with houses dotting along the creek as colourful as its past.
We saw many houses on Creek Street with plaques explaining the history of the buildings such as this one on the right called "Star House", one of the oldest buildings and the only registered brothel in Alaska.
Ketchikan was called the most wicked city in USA, due to its prostitution and gambling.
A lot of the not so desirable activities took place in these houses located on Creek Street in the early 1900's,
Visitors to Creek Street can take a tour in one of these houses and learn about the business that made this street infamous.
At the door of the Dolly's House, a lady dressed as one of the madam's in the past beckoned us to go inside for a tour of the house.
Ketchikan was racially divided in the early 1900's. Japanese Americans opened the New York Cafe on the other side of the town, This Japanese family was interned and whisked away during the WWII.
After Creek Street, we visited two native culturral places - the Totem Heritage Centre, housing the largest collection of salvaged totem parts in Alaska and the Saxman Native Village.
From the knowledgeable museum guide and staff at the village, we learned a lot about the natives' cultures and the various types of totem poles and its history.
We even had time doing a little bit of shopping in town. J. bought some Alaskan beer and I got a fury headband and leopard print gloves in case I would need warmer accessories for this trip.
It made me very happy when J. said to us,” I like the cruise trip. It exceeds beyond my expectations.”
This was our first time docking on this cruise and getting off the ship on this Alaskan cruise. We were pretty excited.
I was all ready and got all my clothes ready the night before. This is Alaska so we need to be well prepared for the weather.
I was up by 6am.
Looking out of the balcony of our cabin, I saw high mountains ranges covered in dense green forests with their tops shrouded by misty clouds.
 |
| View of the shore of Ketchikan from the balcony of our cruise ship. |
As our ship approaching the shore of Ketchikan, the first city of Alaska, it dawn on me that my travel dream of visiting Alaska, North America’s furthest state, has been realized.
We had only from 7 a.m - 2 p.m in Ketchikan, Alaska.
We were glad that from where our cruise ship had docked, it was just steps away from downtown Ketchikan, Alaska.
 |
| Downtown Ketchikan, minutes away from our cruise ship. |
Instead of signing up for a tour that costed from a hundred US dollars to $799.00, we decided that we would do a self guided tour of this frontier
town.
 |
| Creek Street, Ketchikan, Alaska |
The creek that runs along this town of about 9000 residents was the hub of the Tlingit people, one of the five main tribes of the native people living in Alaska, who used to gather here each summer as their fishing camp.
Walking along the creek, we saw numerous fish swimming below the shallow clear water!
 |
| Creek Street, Ketchikan, Alaska - listed as one of the National Historic Places in the U.S. |
This is a pretty part of the town with houses dotting along the creek as colourful as its past.
 |
| Star House on Creek Street, Ketchikan, Alaska |
We saw many houses on Creek Street with plaques explaining the history of the buildings such as this one on the right called "Star House", one of the oldest buildings and the only registered brothel in Alaska.
Ketchikan was called the most wicked city in USA, due to its prostitution and gambling.
A lot of the not so desirable activities took place in these houses located on Creek Street in the early 1900's,
Visitors to Creek Street can take a tour in one of these houses and learn about the business that made this street infamous.
At the door of the Dolly's House, a lady dressed as one of the madam's in the past beckoned us to go inside for a tour of the house.
Ketchikan was racially divided in the early 1900's. Japanese Americans opened the New York Cafe on the other side of the town, This Japanese family was interned and whisked away during the WWII.
After Creek Street, we visited two native culturral places - the Totem Heritage Centre, housing the largest collection of salvaged totem parts in Alaska and the Saxman Native Village.
From the knowledgeable museum guide and staff at the village, we learned a lot about the natives' cultures and the various types of totem poles and its history.
We even had time doing a little bit of shopping in town. J. bought some Alaskan beer and I got a fury headband and leopard print gloves in case I would need warmer accessories for this trip.
I am grateful to God for answering our prayers. We have not travelled together as a family for a little while and this is a great trip to get reconnected and a chance to catch up and talk!
R.T.
Ketchikan, Alaska
USA
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