Creek Street

During Alaska’s pioneering days, Ketchikan’s red-light district was known as Creek Street. Prostitution remained legal here until 1954, with a unique caveat: transactions had to occur over water, not on dry land. This historical quirk explains why Creek Street is not a traditional street but an elevated boardwalk built on wooden pilings above Ketchikan Creek. Today, visitors can stroll along the boardwalk, imagining the colorful past of this historic area.