Ketchikan - "First" City

Ketchikan is sometimes referred to as "Alaska's 'First' City."

It was not the first city founded in Alaska - the city of Kodiak is Alaska's oldest European settlement; Russians first landed here as early as 1763.

However it is the first city you encounter when sailing north from the lower 48 (or Canada) to Alaska. It is located only 90 miles north of Rupert, British Columbia.

Other nicknames include "Salmon Capital of the World" and "Rain Capital of Alaska" (average rainfall is 152 inches).