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© Adelaide de Menil
   
Object name     Photograph
Culture of Origin     Tlingit
Subject     Saxman, Ketchikan, Alaska, Totem Pole
Photographer     Adelaide de Menil
Exhibit Label     The U.S. Forest Service started the totem pole restoration program in 1938. One of their projects was to create the Saxman Totem Park. Saxman is located three miles south of Ketchikan, on the Tongass Narrows. The park was intended to showcase Tlingit carvings, originals and replicas, from Tongass, Cat, Village, and Pennock Islands, as well as Cape Fox Village. Today, Saxman has 34 totem poles, a large clan house and several carving centers. The park features a scenic driveway bordered with poles and a grassy square. Two sets of stairs allow access to the square. One stairway is flanked by Raven house posts, while the other is flanked by Bear house posts. This photo depicts the Pointing Figure Pole (Tlingit). The original pole was raised on Cat Island by members of the Raven Bone House of the Raven clan. It was intended to honor an ancestor. This carving was made for a group of brothers belonging to this same house and erected between 1890-1900 to mark the grave of their sister on Pennock Island. It was originally placed on top of a short undecorated shaft.
Original Photo Source ID     de Menil 66-8-39L/31A
Source     Ms. Adelaide De Menil
Credit     Gift of Adelaide de Menil
 

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