The Chief Shakes Historic Site is a historic collection of original and recreated Native Alaskan artifacts. It is located on Shakes Island, inside Wrangell Harbor, Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska. The most prominent feature of the site is a 1940 reconstruction of a

Tlingit The Tlingit ( or ; also spelled Tlinkit) are indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Their language is the Tlingit language (natively , pronounced ),

community house. This structure incorporates six original house posts, carved poles similar to

totem pole Totem poles ( hai, gyáaʼaang) are monumental carvings found in western Canada and the northwestern United States. They are a type of Northwest Coast art, consisting of poles, posts or pillars, carved with symbols or figures. They are usually m ...

s. The house posts, four of which are from the community house of Chief Shakes, a line of like-named Tlingit clan leaders, are reported to be among the oldest known to survive. The house is surrounded by seven totem poles, two of which are original Tlingit work, and five of which are copies created by crews of the

Civilian Conservation Corps The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a voluntary government work relief program that ran from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men ages 18–25 and eventually expanded to ages 17–28. The CCC was a major part of ...

that also built the house. The site was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1970.

References

External links

Chief Shakes Historic Site
at

The Living New Deal The Living New Deal is a research project and online public archive documenting the scope and impact of the New Deal on American lives and the national landscape. The project focuses on public works programs, which put millions of unemployed to w ...

Project 1940 establishments in Alaska Buildings and structures completed in 1940 Civilian Conservation Corps in Alaska National Register of Historic Places in Wrangell, Alaska Native American history of Alaska Tourist attractions in Wrangell, Alaska Tlingit culture {{WrangellAK-geo-stub

See also

References

External links