Our good fortune on the weather finally ran out- today it rained.   This isn’t surprising because Ketchikan gets 170 inches of rain per year (about ten times what we get back home). 
We get a map of town and head towards the Totem Heritage Center.  Native Alaskans carved enormous totems out of whole trees.  The climate and abandonment of native towns lead to totems throughout the state needing a place to be preserved.  As part of a public works project of the Great Depression, many totems were moved to Ketchikan and are at the museum.  Only a few are on display, but they are neat to see.  We see and learn about the different animals and symbols used from the museum’s well done displays.

The Totem center is small and we then proceed to the bald eagle center and salmon hatchery next door.  The short guided tour is mediocre, but we do get to see a couple eagles up close.  While fun, it doesn’t compare to when we saw them in the wild a couple days ago.  It is, however, very nice to be out of the pouring rain.

We consult Lonely Planet and find a Mexican restaurant for lunch.  I’m not normally a fan of Mexican food, but L.P. says they have good fried chicken and their sign claims the town’s best pizza.  Our waiter from the cruise is coincidentally already eating at the place.  Since he hails from Mexico, we figure it will be good.  The food is good and by the end of lunch the rain has nearly stopped. 

We wander down Creek Street, the city’s old red light district.  As they like to say, it’s where men and salmon go upstream to spawn.  When Ketchikan boomed for mining and fishing, it was male dominated so brothels did big business.  The town now survives on fishing and tourism.
 

I’m now sufficiently water logged and return to the ship to dry off, while L’ wanders to the town library for a quick internet check.  Soon we will depart on our day and a half trip to Vancouver.