Built 1940 (1940) NRHP Reference # 70000918 Area 2,800 m² | Architect CCC Opened 1940 Added to NRHP 27 October 1970 | |
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Location Shakes Island, Wrangell, Alaska | ||
Chief shakes historic site top 6 facts
The Chief Shakes Historic Site is a historic collection of original and recreated Native Alaskan artifacts. It is located on Shakes Island, located in Wrangell Harbor, Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska. The most prominent feature of the site is a 1940 reconstruction of a Tlingit community house. This structure incorporates six original house posts, carved poles similar to totem poles. The house posts, four of which are from the community house of Chief Shakes, a line of like-named Tlingit clan leaders, are reported to be among the oldest known to survive. The house is surrounded by seven totem poles, two of which are original Tlingit work, and five of which are copies created by crews of the Civilian Conservation Corps that also built the house.
The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.