Ketchikan Audio Tour

Ketchikan’s streets hold stories of people who came seeking gold, fish, fortune, or a fresh start—and of those who fought back when opportunity turned to exploitation. This self-guided audio tour brings those overlooked histories into view, including the experiences of Indigenous people, immigrants, and workers.

Begin near the Rock statue and follow the route past the site of Harding’s 1923 Masonic cornerstone and the courthouse connected to two Supreme Court cases. At the former firehouse, now Uncharted Distillery, hear the strange tale of a fire chief who returned in disguise to set more fires. Continue to Creek Street, once Ketchikan’s red-light district, for the story of Dolly the Sporting Woman, then stop at the New York Cafe and learn how its Japanese-American owner endured WWII internment with help from neighbors. The walk ends at East Street Pier, overlooking Pennock Island, Tongass National Forest, and the cruise ships.

With offline audio, maps, and GPS directions in the VoiceMap app, you can explore Ketchikan at your own pace. Start the Ketchikan Audio Tour and uncover the human stories behind the waterfront landmarks.