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Excursions |
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- Chief Shakes Island
- Chief Shakes Tribal House
- Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park
- Shoemaker Bay Park
- Nemo Campsites
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| | | | Chief Shakes Island | | |  | | |
Chief Shakes Island is in the middle of Wrangell Harbor is accessed by a pile supported walkway. Chief Shakes Island, the site of Chief Shakes Tribal House, is on the National Register as an historic monument. The Tribal House was rehabilitated in 1939 under a Civilian Conservation Corps program. The Island is open at all times for walking and experiencing the peaceful setting, and to view the intricately carved totems surrounding the hand hewn Community House. The Community House is opened to the public at designated times scheduled each summer or for prearranged groups. The Wrangell Cooperative Association (the local native IRA Council) is custodian of the land.
The title of "Shakes," or as it is originally known, "We Shakes," was originally conferred upon Chief Gushklin of the Stikine Nan-yan-yi Tlingit settlement near present day Wrangell after a victory in war against the Niska Indians of British Columbia.
The Niska Chief We-Shakes, rather than submit to the degradation of being a slave to the victorious Tlingit Chief removed his "killer whale" hat and placed it on Gushklin's head, giving him his own name "We-Shakes." For reasons unknown, the name has since been shortened to "Shakes." The distinguished title has been handed down through the generations from Chief Shakes I to Chief Shakes VI.
The original Nan-yan-yi "Shakes" or Shakes I was succeeded, according to custom, by his eldest nephew. His reign was short since he died soon after of smallpox and was succeeded by his brother, "Ka-shishk."
The reign of Ka-shishk is remembered beyond that of all others because of his benevolence and consideration of his people. He is said to have gone about at times in disguise so that he might better know what was thought of him. It was in this way that he learned that the people were secretly complaining of the hardships brought upon them by the wars of their chiefs. His long reign ended when, aged and blind, he was killed by a falling tree while returning from the Stikine River after a trading trip. Tradition tells of his great funeral when many slaves were sacrificed to serve him in the next world.
His nephew, "Shawt-shugo-ish" (short woman's father) succeeded him as Shakes IV. He is distinguished principally for having been the first of the Nan-yan-yi chieftains to see a white man. The man, a trader by the name of Captain Haines, is said to be the same man who was later killed near the town that bears his name. He reported Kotslitan (old Wrangell) to be a town of several thousand inhabitants at that time. Lieutenant Zarembo, on the orders of Baron von Wrangell, arrived in 1833 and established himself at the present site of Wrangell in an effort to halt the Hudson's Bay Company in this area on which they were encroaching via the Stikine River. His redoubt, better known as Fort St. Dionysius was finished in 1834. Chief Shakes saw the advantage of friendship with this new power and shortly led his people to a new home within the shadow (and protection) of the Russian stockade. When he died his ashes were placed in a receptacle in the back of a grizzly-bear totem pole similar to the one recently replaced on the island. Forty slaves are said to have been killed at his funeral.
Kow-ish-te, his nephew, succeeded to the chieftainship, becoming Shakes V. During his reign Fort Dionysius was transferred to the Hudson's Bay Company on lease. In 1840, it was re-named "Fort Stikine" and flew the British ensign until the American purchase in the year of 1867. "Kow-ish-te" is the "Shakes" of historical note who figured in the various incidents which took place during the Russian, British and finally American occupation of Wrangell.His remains rest in the only typical Indian grave of this period remaining intact in Wrangell. The plot is enclosed by a turned-wood fence of Russian design and surmounted by two killer whales now almost beyond repair. Looking northeasterly, one may see it plainly from Shakes Island, across a narrow stretch of the inner harbor.
From the time that Shakes IV led his people from Kotslitan to the present site of Wrangell, the history of the Nan-yan-yi is closely intermingled with that of the other Stikine septs and the white settlers who were attracted by promise of rich fur trade, then gold, then trade and finally, fishing. Gush-klin II succeeded Kow-ish-te, becoming Shakes VI. |
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| Chief Shakes Tribal House |
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| Chief Shakes Tribal House is a replica of the original Shakes Tribal House and the impressive architecture of a house of high caste among the Tlingit natives. The doorway shows a figure with many faces. Natives believed that each part of the body could act independent of another, so eyes were placed at joints to depict the power and spirit allowing independent action. Carved replicas of the Shakes Clan houseposts adorn the interior of the structure. The original houseposts, over 200 years old, can be viewed in the Museum, on loan from the Wrangell Cooperative Association. The replica Tribal House was built in 1939. |
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| Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park |
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Some of the best surviving examples of native artistic expression are petroglyphs found in southeast Alaska. Petroglyph is a word derived from the Greek "petra" and "glyphe" for rock and carving. Petroglyphs are designs or symbols pecked into rocks. They are found on boulders and bedrock outcrops on the shore just above or below mean high tide usually near important salmon streams and habitation sites. The rock is metamorphic and tends to be dark gray, fine grained, moderately hard and durable, and highly fractured.
Petroglyph Beach in Wrangell has the highest concentration of petroglyphs in Southeast and has recently been designated a State Historic Park. Access to the beach was improved in the year 2000. There is an accessible boardwalk to a deck overlooking Petroglyph Beach, the Stikine River and Zimovia Straits. Replicas of several designs are displayed on the deck for visitors to make rubbings on. Access to the beach is provided directly from the deck overlook. During construction of the interpretive facility, two new petroglyphs were unearthed. One of these petroglyphs was long thought lost and its discovery was a delight to the local Tlingit natives and Wrangell residents.
We have no way to discern the true intent or motivation of the artists, nor do we know what the designs really meant to their makers and users. Based on what we know from the archaeological record and cultural ethnographies, petroglyphs may be a form of writing, a method of communication, or a way to record events. There are a variety of possible interpretations: to commemorate victories in war; to document the transfer of wealth or territory in settlement of a feud; important potlatches; shamanistic exploits; or simply the work of visiting Tsimshian or of the Tlingit themselves. They may have a magic-religious significance, using petroglyphs as a ritual device to assure success of the hunt and to increase the supply of game. On the other hand, they may simply have no meaning beyond their artistic conception.
Petroglyph Beach is easily accessible from town (approximately 1 mile from the ferry terminal) and allows direct access to this unique cultural collection. Visitors enjoy searching for the more than 40 petroglyphs located on the beach. But please, document your experience with photographs only, and step lightly in order to preserve this record for the future. Make rubbings of the replicas only. An extensive body of research has shown that constant rubbing of the petroglyphs contributes greatly to their accelerated deterioration. Leave what little of the past is left for the future. Enjoy your experience. |
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| Shoemaker Bay Park |
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| Five miles south of town along the Institute Creek is Shoemaker Bay Recreation area. This is a Wrangell favorite and is heavily used year round. The park has a picnic shelter with a fireplace, picnic tables, tennis court, horseshoe pits, playground equipment, outdoor volleyball area and public restroom facilities. Adjacent to the Park across the Institute Creek Footbridge and across the highway from the Rainbow Falls Trailhead is a tent camping area with picnic tables. Restrooms are nearby and the tent camping here is at no-charge. An archery range is now open and located across from Shoemaker Bay parking lot. |
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| Nemo Campsites |
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| U.S. Forest Service maintains three separate camping areas approximately 14 miles south of Wrangell off Zimovia Highway and Forest Road 16 to Forest Road 6267. An entry site with an information display is .5 miles on Forest Road 6267. Yunshookuh Loop is at .7 miles and has three sites each with picnic table, fire ring and grill. One outhouse serves all sites. Three Sisters View Point is at 1.5 mile and has two picnic tables and fire rings with an outhouse. Anita Bay Overlook is at 2.2 miles and also has picnic tables and fire rings and outhouse. Each site offers spectacular views of Zimovia Strait and Etolin Island. No reservations or fees required. A volunteer camp host is available to answer visitor questions. (Road maps are available from the Wrangell Ranger District). | |
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Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252
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