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Potlatch Totem Park

Potlatch Totem Park

Potlatch Totem Park
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Welcome to Potlatch Park! We host some of the finest native art in the world. The park features an authentic tribal house, cedar totem poles, and a carving center. We also have a car museum!
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Karen123WV
    Elkins, West Virginia324 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Really interesting visit
    What an amazing place to visit. Our guide did a terrific job explaining about the totem poles and the various buildings at the site. Learning about native culture is always a plus to me when visiting somewhere. Most of the gift shop items seems to be locally made but I did notice a few that had "made in China" on them so check before you buy if you want local items.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 8, 2024
  • jerrys01
    Bel Air, Maryland647 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Learning a little about the native Alaska people
    Our tour guide brought us through the park to explain how the native people lived hundreds of years ago. Housing was communal, so I'm not sure how private, personal moments were handled. We were also able to see numerous totem poles, where the stories were explained. We also were able to see a totem pole under construction. The trip was educational.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 5, 2024
  • Catherine C
    16 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Potlatch Park Ketchikan
    My husband and I enjoyed our visit to Potlatch Park. We learned a lot about this family-owned park and the legend associated with the totem poles. The totem poles, buildings, antique cars, and museum were a nice surprise on our Alaskan journey.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 1, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles394 reviews
Excellent
221
Very good
119
Average
41
Poor
7
Terrible
6

jerrys01
Bel Air, MD647 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
Our tour guide brought us through the park to explain how the native people lived hundreds of years ago. Housing was communal, so I'm not sure how private, personal moments were handled. We were also able to see numerous totem poles, where the stories were explained. We also were able to see a totem pole under construction. The trip was educational.
Written July 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

eyehearttravelling
Buckinghamshire, England296 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
We were disappointed with this trip. Although our bus driver explained about the history and stories behind the totem poles and the clan house we felt it was all too 'new' and lacked a sense of real history. We were told that totem poles only last about 80 years so maybe that is why the replicas didn't 'feel real'.
Nice gift shop at the end.
Written June 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the input! The tribal house and carving center are authentic and based off historical buildings. We would love to tell you more about the park if you visit again.
Written June 9, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jp P
17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
Place would be tough to find on your own. Lots of interesting displays to see for free. Museum has gift shop and a rare guns display even if you're not into that. Many totems and antique cars too.
Written May 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the review! We are working on our marketing to reach more people! Hope you can come visit again!
Written June 8, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Karen123WV
Elkins, WV324 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
What an amazing place to visit. Our guide did a terrific job explaining about the totem poles and the various buildings at the site. Learning about native culture is always a plus to me when visiting somewhere. Most of the gift shop items seems to be locally made but I did notice a few that had "made in China" on them so check before you buy if you want local items.
Written June 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cedar4604
North Richland Hills, TX1,131 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Couples
We turned into Totem Bight, but weren't sure where to park. Then suddenly we were at Potlatch. The nice guy at the gift shop said it was free to look, so we did the short walk in the rain. The totem poles were interesting. We were the only ones there.
Written September 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kimberlea A
Colorado Springs, CO32 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Friends
The totems were very interesting, I would have liked to have something in writing to refer to regarding each totem.
We saw a whale just cruising along.
The Lumberjack show was so much fun. Too bad no videos were to be taken. The seats were covered bleachers.
I would do a return trip.
Written August 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

George C
Edinburgh, UK273 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2011 • Couples
On a previous visit to Ketchikan we had visited Totem Bight State Historical Park but had not at that time known that there was another park right next door. It is Potlatch Park, barely a one minute walk from the entrance to Totem Bight.

In May we made a repeat visit to Ketchikan and this time headed first of all to Potlatch Park. In addition to some amazing poles and clanhouses, Potlach has a carving centre and if you are there when the carver is, you can watch her at work. If she is not there, you can still view her "work in progress" and see the tools and designs she uses to create a totem pole. There is also a small antique car museum, some indoor displays including stuffed animals and birds, some antique firearms.....and a very extensive gift shop.

The two parks have some similarities but are also different so a visit to one should definitely include a visit to the other. As their totem poles are different you get a great variety to look at, but by visiting both you also get the opportunity to see the work and skill involved in carving a totem pole.

Both Totem Bight and Potlatch Park have free admittance and are an easy bus ride from Ketchikan. The same bus stop does for both, it is actually the terminus. Currently $1 pp each way, only 50 cents each way for seniors.

http://www.potlatchpark.com/index.html
Written June 23, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Joyce C
Barnesville, GA10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2014 • Couples
We went to Totem Bright (next door) and happened across Potlatch Totem Park. Wish we had more time to spend there, it was so beautiful. The totem poles were much better than others in the area. And we were able to see 2 totem poles that were being carved. We rode the public bus from town, $1 each way. Both Potlatch totem Park and Totem Bright State Park have free admission. I highly recommend visiting both. The gift shop at Potlatch Totem Park was very nice and not outrageous. It was an inexpensive but relaxing outing, don't pay the $40 excursion price thru the cruiselines!
Written June 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jujuju2
34 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2013 • Couples
We had visited Ketchikan on cruise ships several times before, but never even knew this park existed until I happened upon a mention of it and researched to find out where it is. Imagine my surprise to find it is right smack dab adjoining Totem Bight State Park. When you get out of your bus or vehicle in Totem Bight parking lot, walk over to the next parking lot south (towards town), and you will find Potlatch Totem Park.

Read the rest of the reviews to find out what is there. I will tell you how to have a wonderful shore excursion for $2 per person, $1 if over 65. Exit your ship and look left. That is north. Cross the street and walk along northbound, paying attention to the signposts, until you find one that says Bus Stop. Catch the Blue city bus going north. Fare is $1, exact change, 50 cents if over 65. Tell the driver you are going to Potlatch Park. He or she will tell you everything else you need to know, like where to get off, and when and where to catch the return bus (same place you got off, in the parking lot). Allow about three hours, four if you want to visit both Potlatch and Totem Bight.
Written July 22, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jan33694
Wheat Ridge, CO9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2012 • Solo
This park is not to be missed, for it goes way beyond having incredible Totem Poles! It is the BEST representation of a Tlingit village that I personally found in my 2 1/2 weeks as an independent traveler through the Inside Passage from Sitka to Ketchikan. My suggestion is to go to their website and see firsthand on the video what I mean! The location is perfect, because it is adjacent to Totem Bight State Park. We just walked over from their parking lot. In addition, the gift shop is huge with a wide variety items, including a small museum.
Written August 8, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Potlatch Totem Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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