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| (This picture is from the Friends of The Library website) |
The picture above shows one of the five cruise ships that were docked in Ketchikan the Sunday we arrived. With a couple thousand passengers on each boat, that meant elbowing your way through about 10,000 tourists in almost that many gift shops. When we got off our ship we gladly headed for the library.
The Walk from our ship to the library took a few minutes. As you can see above even in late June people wore jackets in the 50 degree temperature and 100% plus humidity. Much of the inside passage is very humid and cloudy (read fog). After following a few streets that climbed the steep hillside that Ketchikan is built on we arrived only to remember it was Sunday and the library was closed. We were able to get inside the building which houses both a library wing and a museum wing.
We were even more disappointed when we saw their annual library sale was only a few days later. I took a few pictures that do not do the library justice. For instance, the picture I took through a window does not reveal much.
Usually when we visit a new library I like to pick up a souvenir library card and my wife buys a cloth or canvas book bag. Many libraries have "Friends of the Library " fund raising and support groups that have a book bag for sale. But, alas, that was not possible here.
Instead we enjoyed the setting for this library. It is next to a rushing stream that flows next to the building.
The corner of the library is in the upper left corner of the picture above. Imagine having a wonderful river like this cascading over the rocks next to your library.
I learned some interesting things about the library even though it was not open. The "No-Hassle" sign to the right described an interesting feature. No library card needed. Just get the book stamped (maybe so it gets returned to the library). This was a new idea I had not noticed in other libraries. Perhaps others do this, but it was new to me.
The library has plans in place for building a larger facility. The plans were presented in several formats. Below are sketchs and a photo of the proposed building.
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| (My photo of a displayed sketch) |
Cost $12 million
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| (my photo of a picture displayed at the library) |
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| (this picture is from the library website) |
Even at 50 degrees the humidity will make you sweat walking up the hills in this town. And no I did not try the stairs shown below.
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The bus soon arrived and we headed downtown.
The downtown tourist area is clean and neat. I could not count how many tourist shops there were. I was most surprised that the number of expensive jewlelry stores. So we spent a little time in some of the stores pictured below.
Notice all the fog in the background. Also notice the streets are wet but very neat and clean. If you enjoy humidity you would love it here.
The clock and my feet indicated it was time to head back for the ship. Our few hours here were pleasant but a little sad we had not been able to visit the library.
We took a last look over our shoulder at the ships tied up across the street from the gift shops. Then walked through the tunnel and back to our ship. Notice the wooden stairs here as well. This picture is taken of a main street right along the waterfront. Within a few minutes we were back to the Amsterdam (our ship) and after a brief stop at our cabin and some delicious food we went up to an observation deck to take a last look at ketchikan. By then all the other cruise ships had departed for their next stop. 
Next we will be visiting the Alaska State Library as well as the Juneau Public Library and talking to the "Zen Librarian"
Look for that blog in a few days. As always thanks for reading and making any comments. I respond to all Emails sent to
Married Man's Trail was named for men who found the
trail much to their liking. The trail provided them a measure of serenity they could not have enjoyed on the main streets of Ketchikan. It led to Creek Street. At one time Creek Street served a number of businesses, who were in the, well let's just call it service industry. The trail was used by married men who wanted the services ladies provided in the businesses on Creek street. They preferred this less traveled trail to the busy streets of town.
A knowledgable person from Ketchikan explained it in fewer words.
trail much to their liking. The trail provided them a measure of serenity they could not have enjoyed on the main streets of Ketchikan. It led to Creek Street. At one time Creek Street served a number of businesses, who were in the, well let's just call it service industry. The trail was used by married men who wanted the services ladies provided in the businesses on Creek street. They preferred this less traveled trail to the busy streets of town.
A knowledgable person from Ketchikan explained it in fewer words.
"This trail was used by married men to sneek down to the cathouses that lined Creek street so no one would see them going there."
See, I did warn you that there are some things you just don't want to know!
See, I did warn you that there are some things you just don't want to know!
I have Emailed the director of the Ketchikan library in the hopes they have additional information about their library that might be of interest to those who read this blog. If you want to learn more about this library or it's fund raising efforts please go to the following websites.
To connect to the Ketchikan Public Library
To see pictures of their childrens section go here
To learn more about the building fund or make a donation see this site
Or if you would like to contact the director here is her Email.
Linda Gens, Library Director
