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Heritage

Thomas Basin

Alaska · United States

8 story sections

We will make our way down East Street to over look Thomas Basin and explore some of the last wooden dock structures in Ketchikan, Alaska. If the weather is right we have an opportunity for a large landscape or what ever strikes our imagination. We will talk about commercial fishing and the history of the town, while collecting some of our favorite photos.

History & cultureBY TELLBY

Contents

8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines
  1. 1Thomas Basin

    Welcome to the bustling, salt sprayed heart of Ketchikan's maritime life. You are standing at Thomas Basin, one of the most vital and historically significant boat harbors in the entire region of Southeast Alaska. …

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  2. 2The Commercial Fishing Fleet

    As we walk along the inner edge of the marina, draw your attention to the rugged, utilitarian vessels tied up to the heavy wooden and concrete slips. This is the commercial fishing fleet. …

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  3. 3The Extreme Tidal Environment

    Let us pause near the massive wooden pilings that secure the floating docks. I want to direct your analytical eye toward a phenomenon that dominates life along the Inside Passage. …

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  4. 4The Mouth of Ketchikan Creek

    Turning our gaze slightly inland, we look toward the northeast corner of the basin. Here, the fresh, rushing waters of Ketchikan Creek meet the salty expanse of the Tongass Narrows. …

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  5. 5The Protective Breakwater

    Let us continue our walk outward, toward the heavy stone breakwater that shields Thomas Basin from the open waters of the Tongass Narrows. The transition from the calm, protected waters of the inner harbor to the choppy, wind…

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  6. 6The Charter Fishing and Excursion Docks

    Moving along the southern edge of the basin, we arrive at the docks primarily utilized by the local charter fishing fleets and eco tour operators. While the massive commercial boats haul in tons of seafood for the global market,…

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  7. 7The Seaplane Base Vicinity

    For our final section within Thomas Basin, we turn our attention toward the airspace just above the water. You cannot spend more than a few minutes on the Ketchikan waterfront without hearing the loud, distinctive roar of a…

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  8. 8Closing

    As our exploration of Thomas Basin comes to a close, take one last, lingering look across the crowded docks and the bobbing masts of the fishing fleet. We have journeyed through the maritime heart of Ketchikan, observing the…

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What is Thomas Basin?

Thomas Basin is a place in Alaska · United States with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.

Key facts
LocationAlaska · United States
TypeHeritage
Story sections8
Text languageEnglish
Coordinates55.3392, -131.6397
Last updated

Nearby places

within a 5-minute walk
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