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Wrangell, like most villages and towns in Alaska, has suffered through periodic episodes of boom and bust, but has maintained a reputation as always being friendly. These townswomen, dressed in period costume, greeted the ship, and also illustrated how Western women traditionally entered Alaska: as missionaries, or as "women of negotiable affection." The expedition ship, Clipper Odyssey, is in the background. (Photo by National Ocean Service, NOAA). |
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Just outside of the town of Wrangell, Petroglyph Beach offers a collection of petroglyphs (symbols carved on rock) dating back thousands of years, of unknown origin and meaning. The carvings are in the tidal zone of the beach, and are subjected to daily tidal activity. (Photo by National Ocean Service, NOAA). |
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This church, near the center of Wrangell, served as an occasional home to John Muir during his visits to the town. Today it is a church-affiliated elder hostel. (Photo by National Ocean Service, NOAA). |
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Wrangell gave expedition leader Tom Litwin a symbolic key to the city, plus a chunk of garnet bearing rock. The rock is from Garnet Ledge, an area outside of town deeded to the children of Wrangell, who sell the garnets to visitors. Several children are said to have at least partially funded their college educations through garnet sales. (Photo by National Ocean Service, NOAA). |
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Chief Shakes Island, at the edge of Wrangell's harbor, hosts the Kiksetti Totem Park. There is also a traditional clan home, filled with Tlingit art and utensils. A large communal area in the center surrounds a cooking pit, and this decorated wall leads to the clan leader's private quarters through the door in the center. (Photo by National Ocean Service, NOAA). |
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Every age and culture has their unique artifacts, such as this baseball in the Wrangell museum. Dating back to 1971, it was the first baseball hit for a home run in Wrangell little league, as attested by the newspaper article in the frame and the letter, printed on United States Senate letterhead, from one of Alaska's senators. (Photo by National Ocean Service, NOAA). |
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Wrangell, like most of southeast Alaska, has impressively large tides. Local boat owners have learned to use the tides as an aid in boat maintenance: at high tide, they position their boats over a "gridiron," such as this one, which then gives them access to the outer hull at low tide. (Photo by National Ocean Service, NOAA). |
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Southeast Alaska has famously rough seas, but on this night the waters of Farragut Bay were still and silent. A fog slowly crept in to mask off the surrounding terrain. But what really made the moment special was the time: it is almost 10 p.m., but the long summer days provide just enough light to take a picture. (Photo by National Ocean Service, NOAA). |
Video
Wrangell went
out of its way to welcome the Harriman Retraced
expedition, including hosting a reception at the
Elk's hall. At the hall, a local dance troupe
performed a series of Tlingit dances. This short
clip is from one of those dances. Note, in
particular, the backs of the robes, which display
clan affiliations. (QuickTime format, 10 seconds,
1.7 megabytes. RealVideo alternative.)
(Photo
by National Ocean Service, NOAA)
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For information on the Harriman Retraced Expedition e-mail: harriman2001@science.smith.edu |