Exploring Wrangell

Trip Start May 31, 2008
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Trip End Aug 28, 2008


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Where I stayed
Alaskan Waters Campground
(Wrangell hotels)

Flag of United States  , Alaska,
Friday, June 20, 2008

We slept in this morning after no sleep the night before, then had a leisurely breakfast.  For the first time we awoke to beautiful blue skies.  We decided to take in the history and culture of Wrangell this morning.  Our first stop was the James and Elsie Nolan Center which contains the city's museum.  The museum was very well done and very informative about not only the history of Wrangell, but the culture of the native peoples, primarily the Tlingets. 
From there we drove to Shakes Island in the city which is home to a native clan house built in 1940.  There are also a number of original totems on the island.  We arrived at the time of a talk since there was a small, paddlewheel cruise ship in town for the day.  There were two parts to the talk.  The first part was given by a native who had worked with several others to build an authentic ocean-going canoe after the other canoes had been destroyed in a fire.  The canoe is housed in the clan house and was made from a single cedar tree Bobbie at Rainbow Falls
Bobbie at Rainbow Falls
 .  The second part of the talk was given by a native who talked about the clan house and how it was used.  Both speakers were from the Tlinget tribe. 
On the way to Shakes Island we stopped at Totem Park where several original totems are standing.  It was here that I found the little tiny forget-me-not flowers, which is the state flower of Alaska. 
As we traveled we passed many different wild flowers blooming, white, orange, and purple.
Then it was back to the trailer for lunch.  After lunch we headed out to the eagle's nest by the airport, to find that mom was hunkered down in the nest and there was nothing to see.
So, we decided that maybe we should hike up to Rainbow Falls.  The booklet said it was a walk to a viewing platform.  Well, it was a .6 mile hike up the side of the mountain, with much of it wooden steps, 516 to be exact.  Fred counted them.  We did make it and the falls was worth the climb.  After climbing back down, we got the makings for dinner and went back to the trailer to eat.  After dinner we checked out the two nests before settling in for the night.
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