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.
Western red cedar round.
FEATURE EXHIBIT
CEDAR | The Tree of Life
March 6, 2026 – January 16, 2027
If you live in Southeast Alaska, you have a relationship with cedar—from the homes we build and the baskets we weave to the totem poles that have stood for generations. Cedar: The Tree of Life invites you to explore the cultural, ecological, and artistic importance of red and yellow cedar. Discover your own connection to cedar and the many ways it shapes our lives.
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.
