| Summary: | The totem pole and original house posts were donated to the people of Alaska by Chief Saanaheit of Old Kasaan on Prince of Wales Island. Designs on these house posts are said to be from a legend in which Raven obtains the sun, moon and stars for the people of the earth. The totem pole has several figures such as the traditional Village Watchman, a bear, and Raven. On verso of image: Southeastern Alaska. The finest Totem Pole in Alaska Warner [2028] Filed in Alaska series. In 1903 Alaska's Governor, John Green Brady collected some 20 poles from Prince of Wales Island, acquiring specimens from the Tlingit villages of Tuxekan and Klawock, and the Haida villages of Howkan, Klinkwan, Sukkwan, Old Kasaan, and Koinglas. Some recarving, patching, and repainting was done under Brady's direction, after which the poles were sent to St. Louis for the 1904 Lousiana Purchase Exposition. After the exposition some of the totems were in such poor condition that they were sold; the remaining poles were sent to the Lewis and Clark Exposition in Portland. They were later shipped to Sitka, repaired and repainted, and mounted in the park around 1906.
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