When is a street not a street? When it’s Creek Street in Ketchikan. It’s actually a boardwalk on that follows Ketchikan Creek. When prostitution was outlawed on the city side of Ketchikan Creek in 1903, the enterprising owners figured the way to get around the ordinance was to build a boardwalk on the opposite side of the creek. From 1903 until 1954, Creek Street was Ketchikan’s red light district. These days it’s a tourist stop and one of the most photographed streets in America.
This photo highlights several aspects of Creek Street and Ketchikan. First, you can see how the street is actually a boardwalk. Second, you can see the street’s most famous bordello, Dolly’s Place, to the right of center. And third, you can see that Ketchikan is one of the rainiest places on Earth. It rained the entire time we were there, but we didn’t let the rain keep us from exploring.
Mostly True 