The Last Saloon Before the Wilderness: A Ketchikan Audio Tour

30 min – one hour Free cancellation Private tour

The Last Saloon Before the Wilderness: A Ketchikan Audio Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Ketchikan has always drawn people chasing gold, fish, fortune, or a fresh start, and not everyone succeeded. This self-guided audio tour surfaces the scandals and tragedies cruise lines skip, and how Indigenous people, immigrants, and workers pushed back against exploitation.

From the Rock statue, you'll pass Harding's 1923 Masonic cornerstone site, the courthouse behind two Supreme Court cases, and the firehouse, now Uncharted Distillery, linked to a fire chief's disguised return to set more fires.

The route continues to Creek Street, the red-light district, for the truth about Dolly the Sporting Woman, and the New York Cafe, whose Japanese-American owner survived WWII internment thanks to neighbors, ending at East Street Pier overlooking Pennock Island, Tongass National Forest, and the cruise ships.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Crime Tours Short term availability

At a glance

Duration: 30 min – one hour
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–30
Audio guide: English
Written guide: English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

Ages: Adults (6–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
Included: Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Included: Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Included: Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
Included: The VoiceMap App for Android and iOS

Not included

Not included: Smartphone and headphones

Itinerary

Stop 1

Passing by

The route takes you past The Rock, a bronze monument unveiled near the cruise ship docks in 2010, its seven life-size figures depicting the loggers, miners and fishers who shaped early Ketchikan. Any costs related to visiting the area are not covered in this tour.
Stop 2

Passing by

You'll walk past Pioneer Cafe on Mission Street, a diner decorated with Route 66 memorabilia that has fed Ketchikan's fishing and logging crews for decades. Any costs related to making purchases at the cafe are not covered in this tour.
Dolly's House Museum

Passing by

You may spot Dolly's House on Creek Street, home and workplace of madam Dolly Arthur from 1919 until the district closed in 1954, now a museum with her original furnishings intact. Please note that admission to the museum is not included in this tour.
Creek Street

Passing by

The route crosses Creek Street in Ketchikan, a boardwalk built on pilings that served as the town's red-light district until 1954. Any costs related to visiting the area or making purchases there are not covered in this tour.
Potlatch Bar

Passing by

You'll pass by the Potlatch Bar, built in the 1930s and reputed to be Ketchikan's oldest bar still standing in its original spot on Thomas Basin. Any costs related to making purchases at the bar are not covered in this tour.
Stop 6

Passing by

Passing East Street, you'll see the pier where Ketchikan's fishing fleet still moors, at the edge of the historic Stedman-Thomas waterfront district. Any costs related to visiting the area are not covered in this tour.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

This tour starts at 210 Front St, Ketchikan. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point

The tour ends on the East Street Pier in the harbour.

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

───

Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

───

Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

Create an account

Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

───

You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It's best to download before you set off for the starting point.

This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.

When the download completes, you'll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.

Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT

───

For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]