Tlingit Totem Poles: Stories in Wood

The Tlingit carved stories into wood that could outlast empires. These monumental

poles were raised across coastal Alaska by the Tlingit people starting around the eighteenth century.

Carved from massive red cedar logs, each figure represents clan crests, ancestors,

or legendary beings stacked in deliberate order. They weren't religious idols but visual

genealogies, proclaiming family lineage, commemorating events, and asserting territorial

rights at potlatch ceremonies. Most people think they're ancient relics,

but totem pole carving actually exploded after European iron tools arrived, making the art more

accessible.