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Introduction

Ketchikan is an ancient city that is both fascinating and enjoyable.Even though there are some American restaurants and stores, (and it is part of the States, of course), it is certainly not your typical American town.If Anchorage is at one end of the Alaskan spectrum, you will definitely find Ketchikan at the other end.This small city contains more totem poles than anywhere in the world, and is set at the base of Deer Mountain.Back in the 1930?s, Ketchikan was fondly known as the salmon-canning capital of the world.While this may no longer be true, the salmon fishing remains outstanding.Just before the beginning of the 20th century, a series of gold discoveries brought vast numbers of immigrants to the area.This created two important industries that strengthened the economy in Ketchikan: commercial fishing and lumber.The region prospered for a while, but suffered an economic depression after the gold dried up, and the immigrants were left with no more than when they came.Many of them left and went to other parts of Alaska where they could find work.