Creek Street

Ketchikan is a small, isolated city on the coast of Revillagigedo Island in southeast Alaska, and it has a vibrant, scandalous history that makes it one of the most popular cruise-ship stops in the area. The historic “red light district” of Creek Street is a top attraction of Ketchikan, and visitors here can take a stroll through the past to get a glimpse of what life was like at the height of the prohibition era.

Visiting Creek Street

Just over a 10-minute walk from the cruise-ship terminal of Ketchikan, Creek Street is a historic boardwalk district with homes built on pilings directly over Ketchikan Creek. Thousands of visitors come to Creek Street every year to visit unique shops, local restaurants, and the Dolly’s House Museum—the home of Dolly Arthur, Ketchikan’s most-famous madam.

One of the tours that includes a Creek Street visit is our Ketchikan Sightseeing Tour.

History

Ketchikan was settled by Europeans in the late 1800s, who found it to have abundant resources—particularly with the plentiful salmon that travel up the creek each year to spawn. In 1903, the town council ordered that all brothels be moved to the other side of the creek, called “Indian Town”. In response, Creek Street flourished as Ketchikan’s red light district, with more than 30 brothels lining the street at its peak.

Thriving through the prohibition era, Creek Street remained in operation as a red light district until the city finally banned prostitution in 1953.

Interesting Facts

You can’t take more than a step down Creek Street without being surrounding by fascinating legends, history, and architecture. As the famous saying goes, Creek Street is “where more men than fish went upstream to spawn!” Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, modern-day Creek Street has transformed into one of Ketchikan’s prized historic treasures.

• Creek Street homes and businesses often had trap doors in the floor where bootleggers would simply row up to the home at high tide to drop off Canadian whiskey during prohibition.
• Dolly’s House—the last of Creek Street’s brothels and home to Dolly Arthur—was converted into a museum after Dolly retired when prostitution was outlawed in the city.
• The Married Man’s Trail leads from Creek Street up through the wilderness away from town, making it the perfect route for married men to escape when police raided the brothels.
• From late July through September, the Salmon Ladder at the end of the Married Man’s Trail teems with thousands of salmon going upstream to spawn.
• The 55-foot Chief Johnson Totem Pole stands at the entrance of Creek Street and is a replica of the original totem pole that stood until 1982 at the mouth of Ketchikan Creek.

Points of Interest

Creek Street’s past has transformed into a walk through time that offers visitors one of Alaska’s most unique glimpses into history. From the scandals, sin, and bootlegging of the past has emerged a vibrant historic district. Whether you’re interested in salmon, fishing, or exploring the bawdy past of turn-of-the-century Ketchikan, you won’t want to miss taking a stroll through Creek Street.

View all of our Ketchikan excursions and ideas for things to do in Ketchikan.