Lakich'inei totem pole (Haida) at Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska, circa 1960s

• Main Author: Clifford, Howard
• Other Authors: University of Washington Libraries. Special Collections Division.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Totem poles > Alaska; Haida Indians > Arts & crafts > Alaska; Haida sculpture > Alaska > Sitka National Historical Park; Haida wood-carving > Alaska > Sitka National Historical Park; Sitka National Historical Park (Sitka; Alaska); Clifford; St. Louis; haida; Alaska
• Online Access: http://cdm16786.contentdm.oclc.org:80/cdm/ref/collection/alaskawcanada/id/4510

Clifford 592 Sitka National Historical Park is home to a collection of totem poles. The park is Alaska's oldest federally designated park site and was established in 1890. In 1910, it was made a monument to commemorate the 1804 Battle of Sitka between the Tlingits and Russians. Alaskan governor John Brady was interested in preserving Native art when he went to various villages in southeast Alaska to collect totem poles and other artwork for a totem park that he was planning. The totem poles that he received from Native leaders were displayed first at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis and at the Lewis and Clark Exposition in Portland the following year. In 1906 the poles were returned to Alaska and placed along the pathways at Sitka National Historical Park. Several poles would be loaned to the 1964 New York World's Fair. Many of the poles are replicas of the originals due to physical deterioration. The original Lakich'inei pole was from Sukkwan, a Kaigani Haida village and was donated to Brady in 1903. (Source: http://www.nps.gov/sitk/historyculture/index.htm)