Ketchikan is named after Ketchikan Creek, which flows through the town, emptying into the Tongass Narrows a short distance southeast of its downtown. “Ketchikan” comes from the Tlingit name for the creek, Kitschk-hin, the meaning of which is unclear. It may mean “the river belonging to Kitschk”; other accounts claim it means “Thundering Wings of an Eagle”.
Our short stop in Ketchikan was packed with visiting the town known for salmon. We saw a ladder to help the fish spawn and saw a lot of culture including Dolly’s House – another fine establishment know for negotiable affection. It was a fun stop and we even saw more wildlife – this time a small otter taking a lunch break in the creek. The Associated Press machine was on display at the local newspaper where we stopped briefly to get out of the rain.
