Tongass Historical Museum Exhibits
Exhibits inspire, educate and connect.
Explore Ketchikan’s history and heritage through exhibits, past and present.
Tongass Historical Museum Exhibits
Exhibits inspire, educate and connect.
Explore Ketchikan’s history and heritage through exhibits, past and present.
TONGASS HISTORICAL MUSEUM CORE EXHIBIT
Ketchikan Is…
Resilient. Independent. Resourceful. These words surfaced repeatedly from community members as this exhibit came to life. Add in unrelenting rain and back-breaking rock and watch the dynamics of this unique town emerge. We invite you to take a journey through Ketchikan’s past to better understand the present and be inspired for our future.
Industries leave their imprint on Ketchikan. Here, a sign from the Ketchikan Pulp Mill (1954-1997) reminds us of the once thriving logging industry.
Shawn Sande, Oyster Farm Manager at Hump Island Oyster Co.
FEATURE EXHIBIT
On the Edge
MARCH 1, 2024 - JANUARY 17, 2025
On the Edge: Stories From Ketchikan's Working Waterfront explores the people, places, and work on Ketchikan’s working waterfront, a hub vital to our island community’s economy, cultural traditions, and way of life. A diverse array of activities and businesses, including fish processors, freight companies, boat builders, floatplanes, ferries, and cruise ships, thrive with access to water and shorefront infrastructure.
We are proud to highlight a few of the hardworking people who work in Ketchikan’s maritime industries. These stories collectively represent a snapshot of the workforce that keep our community going. For these individuals, the waterfront signifies much more than a place of work—it is their passion, lifestyle, and heritage.
DIVE DEEP & EXPLORE
With thousands of photographs, objects and archives, there's much to discover. We're adding to these digital records on a regular basis. Don't see what you're looking for?
Give us a call at 907-225-5600.
DIVE DEEP INTO OUR HISTORY 
FROM THE VAULT
EXPLORE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST
Past Exhibits
Past exhibits feature the many authentic stories from Ketchikan’s unique past, curated through photos and artifacts from the museum collection in addition to loans from the community.
