Heritage Sites
Yaxté (meaning Big Dipper in Tlingit) totem pole stands on the traditional homeland of Áak’w Kwáan Tlingit, also known today as Auke Recreation Area on the Tongass National Forest.
(USDA Forest Service.)There are many incredible heritage sites on the Chugach and Tongass National Forests. Learn what makes them special using the links below. Sites with an asterisk next to the name are able to be visited in person.
- Big Shaheen Cabin*
- Chilkat Oil Company Refinery Site
- Coffman Cove
- Cordova Post Office and Court House*
- Disenchantment Bay Sealing Camps
- Duke Island Area Traditional Cultural Property
- Hidden Falls
- Iditarod National Historic Trail - Town of Iditarod/Town of Flat/Winner Creek Trail*
- McKinley Lake Mine*
- McKinley Lake Cabin*
- M/V Chugach*
- Port Camden Fish Trap
- Shuká Kaá - On Your Knees Cave
- Sqilantnu Archaeological District*
- Tongass Petroglyphs
- Three Lakes Shelter*
- Validation Terrace and Irish Creek
- Yaxté Totem Pole*
Why can I visit some sites in person, but not all of them?
Sensitive information associated with archaeological sites, including geographic location, is confidential and restricted by law: § 307103 (Formerly Section 304) of NHPA, Section 9 of Archaeological Resources Protection Act (§ 470hh), Section 8106 of the 2008 Farm Bill, and Section (b) of the Freedom of Information Act.
Site location information is restricted in order to protect sites from vandalism. The past belongs to all Americans. When looters and vandals destroy archaeological and historic sites, part of the Nation's heritage is lost forever.