Shakes Community House

Southeast Alaska


The cedar wood house in the middle of Chief Shakes Island is a replica of a typical Tlingit chief's house recreated by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1940. The house incorporates four structural totem poles thought to date from the 1840s and is surrounded by six more poles (most of them replicas).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Southeast Alaska attractions

1. Chief Shakes Island

0.04 MILES

The Shakes are a long line of Tlingit leaders (the current leader is Chief Shakes X). They are represented on this tiny, grassy islet slap bang in the…

2. Chief Shakes Grave

0.16 MILES

Of minor interest is the grave of Chief Shakes V (1840–78), the fifth in a long line of Tlingit chiefs (the current chief is Shakes X). It is hidden on a…

3. Totem Park

0.3 MILES

In true tribal fashion, Wrangell's totems are left to rot naturally, thus the killer-whale totems in this park are soddenly authentic.

4. Wrangell Museum

0.34 MILES

This impressive museum is what the colorful history and characters of Wrangell deserve. As you stroll through the many rooms, an audio narration…

5. Petroglyph Beach

1.29 MILES

Thought Alaska's history started with the Klondike gold rush? Not so. Historians and anthropologists should home in on this state historic park on…