A couple weeks ago, my husband asked, “what is this thing called a blog?” Since it was time for a new one, I decided to do a little research. Everything today is pretty much digital and google has become the favorite source of information. Blogs are basically online journals where people write,...
Totem poles are tall carvings that symbolize Native Alaskan ancestors and cultural beliefs. Because it is rot resistant, they are made from cedar wood and painted with bright colors made from chewed cedar bark and salmon eggs. There are six basic colors – red stands for blood, war and valor; blue,...
Ketchikan is the southernmost city in Alaska. It is also the Salmon Capital of the world and the rain capital of Alaska averaging 153 inches of rain each year. The day we visited Ketchikan, our guide commented that it was an unusually nice day with sunshine and no rain. George Inlet Lodge was once...
Grilled Salmon When I looked through the various excursions offered by the Cruise line, I was intrigued with this thing called a “Salmon Bake.” I had no idea what to expect. Was it a large kitchen where they baked salmon; taught you how to bake salmon? A couple excursions mentioned “dinner...
I have always enjoyed folklore and during our tour of Skagway, Alaska, one of my favorite stops was the local cemetery that included the story of “Soapy” Smith. Jefferson R. “Soapy” Smith was a swindler who loved talking people out of their money. In 1879, he lived in Denver and worked out of his...
Skagway, Alaska Skagway is the smallest borough in Alaska, located in the narrow valley of the Taiya Inlet. It consists of a main street where the ship towers over the port at one end and the green mountain dominates the opposite end. I snapped this picture midway up another mountain that...
I’m a retired Library Director and love books, what else can I say? Granite is a children’s story about an Alaskan husky and his musher Susan Butcher. Susan Butcher was the four-time Iditarod Champion. She raised and trained Alaskan husky dogs and as a musher, she delivered mail and supplies via...
I studied the Gold Rush in high school but never really understood the fever until our trip to Alaska. Juneau was founded when the gold rush shifted from California to Alaska in 1880. People flocked to the area seeking their fortunes in the rugged terrain. Today, many towns in Alaska feature gold...
September 5, 2018 You’d think that the capital of a state would be one of the largest, industrial or most convenient of cities. Juneau, the capital of Alaska, rests at the base of Mount Roberts and is reachable only by boat or sea plane – there are no real roads connecting the town to the rest of...