In 1976, Sitka National Historical Park marked the nation’s bicentennial with a new direction. Although earlier poles had been carved and raised in the park by Civilian Conservation Corps carvers, the newly carved CCC poles were replicas of earlier poles from elsewhere in Southeast Alaska. In an era of growing Native pride, the Bicentennial Pole project set out to tell a modern story using a traditional format.
Memorial and mortuary columns were common pole types found in Southeast Alaska. Memorial poles, along with house posts, are among the oldest forms of totem poles.
Totem poles stand through time recalling past events. As you begin your journey at the entrance to the temperate rainforest, you are a witness in another time. You will experience some of the skills of these creative and talented artists, of their forest and ocean world, and of their respect for every living thing in it.
This pole is unusual in that it includes crest figures from both Raven and Eagle moieties. It is intended to be a public display of unity, putting old clan differences aside and working for the good of all Tlingit people. The pole’s Tlingit name translates roughly, “Our grandparents who were the very first people to use Indian River and the other people who were here, too.”
In 1804, the Tlingit Kiks.adi clan fought a key battle against invading Russian forces at the mouth of Indian River. The K’alyáan Pole is a memorial to those Kiks.adi people who lost their lives in the conflict. It is named after K’alyáan, the legendary warrior who led the battle.
The figures on this Kaigani Haida pole represent three Tlingit legends, the most interesting of which is depicted by the figure at the bottom with a creature in its mouth. It is the history of how a clan acquired the woodworm as its crest.
Raven is portrayed on this memorial column, distinguished by his rather large, slightly crooked beak. The person being honored by the erection of this pole was of the Raven moiety.
Designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL) in 1962 the Russian Bishops House site was a cultural and educational center in Alaska from the 1840's to the mid-twentieth century.
The original pole was from the Kaigani Haida village of Kasaan on Prince of Wales Island and was donated to the people of Alaska in 1901 by Chief Saanaheit as a memorial to his people. It was the first pole in the Park in 1901 and what a majestic one to welcome all the others that arrived two years later.
The events in our lives are often shaped by conflicts that need to be resolved. The ridicule pole served to resolve conflicts through peer pressure and was non-violent.
Totem pole carving was traditionally the responsibility of a select group of craftsmen who have been formally trained in an apprenticeship system. A totem is carved by an artist of a clan opposite the clan of the person who commissions it. It was not uncommon for a Haida carver to be commissioned by a Tlingit, or vice versa.
These are original pieces of one of the two Yaadaas clan crest corner poles brought to the park in 1906. This pole originally stood at 23 feet and along with its twin, stood at the exterior corners of the Yaadaas clan house.
Two seemingly identical poles stood at the exterior front corners of the Yaadaas clan house in Old Kasaan on Prince of Wales Island. This was uncommon. It is the only set known to exist.
A figure of the Village Watchman at the top is unique to Haida crest poles and has no significance or relationship to the crests. It was intended to let the people know that they were being watched over and will be protected.
A replica of the original Yaadaas Crest Pole, which was donated by John Baranovich of Old Kasaan over 100 years ago. The original Yaadaas Crest pole remains in the park's collection, and may be viewed in the Totem Preservation Exhibit.
