Located on the western side of Prince of Wales Island, Klawock is known as the crossroads of the area. A jet charter airport in Klawock takes you to the only runway on the island and right in the heart of the area’s history and amenities.
Incorporated in 1929, Klawock was originally a summer fishing camp. The town was permanently inhabited when a Tlingit chief moved his clan to Klawock from a village in Moira Sound. The Tlingit culture runs through Klawock and is celebrated every year with a festival that recognizes Elizabeth Peratrovich’s civil rights work on behalf of the Tlingit.
Additional history stands tall in the form of 21 totem poles in the local totem park. Replicas of the original totem poles from Tuxekan, these local totem poles have been raised in the traditional manner and with large turnouts. Visitors who are curious about the traditional totem poles are encouraged to visit the heritage center. Inside visitors will find a longhouse and carving shed where they can observe carving taking place and talk to the carvers.
Klawock is home to the oldest hatchery in Alaska. The area is stocked with salmon, including sockeye, coho, and steelhead. There is also an employee-owned sawmill and various logging operations in the area.
Though home to less than a thousand people, Klawock still offers many amenities like restaurants, a library, and accommodations. Visitors can take part in one of the many excursions and fishing tours in the area to try their hand at catching a fish or spotting local wildlife.
