The mckinleyville totem pole: Why is it so famous? (Discover its cool history)

Okay, so I finally got around to checking out that giant totem pole in McKinleyville. You know, the one they say is the world’s tallest? Yeah, that one. It’s been on my list for a while now. I’m not sure why I decided to make a record for it, but I’m glad I did. I woke up early this morning and drove over there.

First off, let me tell you, finding the place was a bit of a mission. It’s tucked away behind some stores. I drove around for a bit before I finally spotted it. You can’t really see it from the main road, so keep your eyes peeled.

The mckinleyville totem pole: Why is it so famous? (Discover its cool history)

When I finally got there, I was like, “Whoa, this thing is massive!” I mean, they say it’s 160 feet tall, but seeing it in person is something else. It is made of wood and red wood. I walked around it, craning my neck to see the top. The base alone weights 214,000 pounds! And the pole weights 57,000 pounds! It’s a bit mind-boggling when you think about the work that went into it.

I started reading up on totem poles after I got home, and it’s pretty fascinating stuff. It’s mainly visual representations of kinship, depicting family crests and clan membership. Apparently, they’re a big deal for some indigenous groups up on the Northwest Coast. Each figure carved into the pole represents ancestors and supernatural beings. They are records of their history.

  • Learned that the town used to be called Minor, but they changed it to McKinleyville after President McKinley was assassinated. Kinda dark, but interesting.
  • Found out this pole isn’t the only giant one out there. There’s one in Alert Bay, British Columbia, that’s even taller, like 173 feet, but it’s made of a few pieces, so maybe McKinleyville’s is the tallest single-piece one? I don’t know the details, just want to share.

Anyway, I spent a good hour just walking around, taking pictures, and soaking it all in. It is a pretty cool piece of history and art, even if it’s a bit random for a town like McKinleyville. The town also has beaches, camping, hiking, and golf. But I just went for the totem pole today.

If you’re ever in the area, I definitely recommend checking it out. Just be prepared to do a little searching to find it! And maybe wear some comfortable shoes, ’cause you’ll be doing a lot of neck-craning.

My Takeaway

It was a fun little adventure, and I learned a bit about totem poles in the process. Plus, I got some cool pictures out of it. All in all, a good day!

The mckinleyville totem pole: Why is it so famous? (Discover its cool history)

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