Juneau-Douglas City Museum

The Juneau-Douglas City Museum is located in Juneau, Alaska. The community of Douglas is located directly across the channel from downtown Juneau. We collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit those materials that document the cultures and history of the Juneau and Douglas area. Our mission is to foster an awareness of our diverse cultural heritage, values, and community memory so we may draw strength and perspective from the past, inspire learning, and find purpose for the future.

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Resources from Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Resource Kit

Kaxdegoowu Héen Sháali (Montana Creek Fish Trap)

In this resource kit you will observe an ancient funnel trap once used for fishing near Juneau, Alaska, you will construct a simple funnel trap to capture and hold a marble, and build and test a trap of your own design.

Created by: Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Montana Creek Fish Trap

This basketry-style trap was discovered in 1989 and excavated in 1990-91. The top section of the trap was washing away. It was recovered immediately by anthropologists from the University of Alaska Southeast and the Alaska State Museum. Jon Loring, Robert Betts and Greg Chaney excavated the trap in 1991. The cylindrical trap was crushed into an oval shape from burial. It was bent at the back; the back of the trap was gone. Basketry-style traps are rarely found in an archaeological context because they were removed from the stream after the fishing season for repair and storage. This trap was unusually well preserved due to its quick burial and the high iron content of the surrounding soils. No other ancient basketry-style traps have been conserved on the Northwest Coast.

Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Small Early Juneau Tlingit Village

Watercolor painting depicting an Auk Tlingit Village of the 1880's. Based on photograph.

Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Replica of the Montana Creek Fish Trap

This is a replica of the Montana Creek fish trap. It is cylindrical in shape with a funnel at the entrance. It was made from horizontal slats of hemlock and Sitka spruce with circular, bent wood ribs, lashed together with spruce root.

Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Close-Up Photo of the Montana Creek Fish Trap Excavation

1999 black and white photo of the Montana Creek Fish Trap identified as a basketry-form fish trap. Trap is dated to 500-700 years old. Detail of upper slats with lashings visible.

Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Photograph of the Montana Creek Fish Trap Excavation

This photograph of the Montana Creek Fish Trap excavation shows Archeologist, Jon Loring, and another person working on site. The trap is a NW Coast basketry-style fish trap radio carbon dated to 1300-1700 CE. In this photograph, the fish trap is largely exposed and the protective wrapping on the lashing is visible.

Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Tlingit Halibut Float

This is a hand carved Tlingit halibut float. Halibut floats are attached to hooks when fishing for halibut. This float was likely discovered on a beach in Southeast Alaska. One end has been craved to resemble a duck's head and the other end has been carved into a knob.

Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Tlingit Halibut Hook

This traditional Tlingit halibut hook was hand carved and fashioned from two sections of wood lashed together with split spruce root at the center, the back, and at the barb.

Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Design Your Own Trap

Kaxdegoowu Héen Sháali (Montana Creek Fish Trap)

Created by: Juneau-Douglas City Museum

How did the Trap Work?

Kaxdegoowu Héen Sháali (Montana Creek Fish Trap)

Diagram of a fish trap used by Indigenous Australians. Image courtesy of https://www.questacon.edu.au/discover/burarra-gathering/extra-information/fish-trap

Created by: Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Label the Parts of the Montana Creek Fish Trap

Kaxdegoowu Héen Sháali (Montana Creek Fish Trap)

Use the text tool to label the parts of the Montana Creek fish trap: FUNNEL, STAVE, HOOP, LASHING and also use the paint tool to draw an X on a STAVE, a HOOP and a LASHING. Be sure to use a paint and text color that stands out.

Created by: Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Timeline Map 1300-1500

Kaxdegoowu Héen Sháali (Montana Creek Fish Trap)

Explore the timeline map to see what else was happening when the Montana Creek fish trap was made!

Created by: Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Montana Creek Fish Trap Design

Kaxdegoowu Héen Sháali (Montana Creek Fish Trap)

The Montana Creek fish trap was made from plants that grow in Southeast Alaska. The design of this trap was very effective because it allowed fish to enter the trap easily. Once inside, the fish were unable to get back out. Click on the image to learn more about the shape of the Montana Creek fish trap and the plants that were harvested to create the trap.

Created by: Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Observe a Photograph

Kaxdegoowu Héen Sháali (Montana Creek Fish Trap)

What do you see?

Created by: Juneau-Douglas City Museum

A Very Old Fish Trap

Kaxdegoowu Héen Sháali (Montana Creek Fish Trap)

Learn about Kaxdegoowu Héen Sháali from discovery to exhibition at the City Museum in Juneau, Alaska.

Created by: Juneau-Douglas City Museum

Introduction and Preparation

Kaxdegoowu Héen Sháali (Montana Creek Fish Trap)

Introduction to this Resource Kit

Created by: Juneau-Douglas City Museum

What Makes a Trap a Trap?

Kaxdegoowu Héen Sháali (Montana Creek Fish Trap)

Construct a Successful Trap

Created by: Juneau-Douglas City Museum

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