Wrangell

August 10, 2025 – Sunday

We arrived in Wrangell just as BearFest stirred the town to life—a celebration both contemporary and ancient. Long before Russian traders and American settlers arrived, this land was home to the Tlingit people, who revered bears as powerful beings, woven into stories, clan crests, and ceremony. Today, Wrangell’s bear sculptures echo that legacy, honoring the black and brown bears of the Tongass and the enduring relationship between people, place, and wild spirit.

Bear Sculptures Around Town

Throughout the festival, children become explorers—tracking bear prints, crafting masks, and learning about forest ecology through play. Workshops and storytelling sessions invite young minds to connect with nature, blending science and wonder in ways that feel both joyful and profound. BearFest isn’t just a tribute—it’s a living classroom, where the next generation finds its footing in the rhythms of Southeast Alaska.

Chief Shakes House

Chief Shakes Tribal House, located on Shakes Island in Wrangell Harbor, is a striking replica of a traditional Tlingit clan house and a central symbol of the Naanyaa.aayi Clan’s heritage. Originally built in 1940 and restored in 2013, it features intricately carved house posts and surrounding totem poles that reflect centuries of Tlingit artistry and storytelling. Once the home of Chief Shakes and his extended family, the house stands as a powerful testament to the enduring cultural presence of the Tlingit people in Southeast Alaska.

Bearfest Community Market

Sights Around Town