Klawock is located on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island across from Klawock Island, home of the new cruise port. Early inhabitants were from Tukekan, a Tlingit winter village to the north. The Tlingit people have lived on Prince of Wales Island for 10,000 years. Klawock was used as a summer fishing camp, and has been known as Klawerak, Tlevak, Clevak and Kiawak. The history of Klawock is closely tied to the fishing industry. A trading post and salmon saltery were established in 1868, and the first cannery in Alaska was built here by a San Francisco firm in 1878. The subsequent canneries that sprouted in the area were operated under contract with Chinese laborers. Klawock is part of the Tongrass National Park and is considered to be the largest temperate rain forest in the world.
In 1929, Klawock incorporated as a city, and a school was constructed. In 1934, Klawock received federal funds under the Wheeler Howard Act to develop a local cannery, on the condition that residents vote to be liquor-free. In 1971, the Alaska Timber Corporation built a sawmill. Soon after, logging became an important economic resource outside Klawock and a deep water dock was constructed on Klawock Island. The State of Alaska constructed a salmon hatchery in 1977. Klawock and Craig are the two nearest towns to the port and I can report that there isn’t much to see in either location. The towns are mostly residential in nature with a few stores that have needed items for residents such as hardware and grocery. There are no bars or restaurants in Klawock as it is still liquor-free.
On a brighter note, we took an excursion that was one of my favorites of the entire voyage. We were transported by van to a secluded location along the Klawock River to enjoy some of the signature flavors of the island. We were treated to delicious oysters(Klawock is known throughout Southeast Alaska for its oysters), salmon, halibut, kelp, salmon roe, and seasonal berries. All courses were paired with a curated selection of wines or beer, chosen by our chef. The pictures will show just how special this little outing was. Nestled along a river and deep into the woods with individual firepits and bubble tents to enhance our experience. Loved everything about this place and the people who shared their talents with us. Next, we headed to Klawock’s Veteran’s Memorial Park and Klawock’s Totem Park, two cultural treasures showcasing a remarkable collection of intricately carved totem poles that narrate the rich heritage of the Tlingit people. The park is a living testament to the artistry and stories passed down through generations. Our guide was very well versed in the stories that came with each beautiful totem.
I want to finish by saying that the pride that comes with being Native in this area was at the forefront of our entire day. They (tribal council, legislators, local business men and women) had gathered en masse from all over the state to commemorate the opening of the port, share the history of the area and thank the people that worked tirelessly to make this a reality. What a pleasure to have shared in the excitement of the day. We were all given a commemorative marble coaster with a map of the area embossed on the top. I missed a picture of the people in native dress, unfortunately. It was really something to see and we boarded a shuttle before I had the chance to photograph them. The landscape, the people and the excitement of the day will stay with me for quite some time.
