Totem Pole conservation project begins Wednesday at city museum

(City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Harnessing of the Atom Kootéeyaa will be taken down and moved to the front lawn of the City Museum on Wednesday, July 23, between 10-11 a.m.

During that time, there will be no parking in front of the museum nor on the Calhoun Ave. side of the building. Sidewalks around the museum will be closed and traffic will be reduced to one lane.

Harnessing of the Atom Kootéeyaa was carved by renowned Lingít carver and artist, Jeet Yaaw Dustaa Amos Wallace of the T’akdeintaan Clan of the X’aakw Hit (Freshwater marked Coho House) in 1967. In 1976, it was installed outside the Juneau Memorial Library which is now the Juneau-Douglas City Museum.

When the pole was installed in 1976 a traditional method of mounting a totem was used. This involved digging a hole for the lower end of the post to rest in. Rocks lined the hole to provide drainage and stability. By 2003 the pole had developed a distinct lean and was in danger of severe damage. It was removed from its original, traditional mount. A new aluminum support post was mounted in a concrete base to provide better stability and prevent further damage.

It has been 22 years since Harnessing of the Atom Kootéeyaa was remounted and stabilized, and once again the pole needs conservation and care. This kind of care will require taking the pole down, replacing the base, stabilizing any worsening open splits, and cleaning and applying fungicide.

This project is supported by Juneau Rotary, the Friends of the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, and individual donors.