Patsy Ann Statue

Bronze statue of Juneau's deaf bull terrier mascot, who greeted every ship that docked

The bronze statue of Patsy Ann sits on the downtown wharf near the cruise ship berths, and she is one of Juneau's most photographed residents despite having died in 1942. Patsy Ann was a bull terrier who arrived in Juneau as a puppy and took up her self-appointed role as the city's ship-greeter, appearing at the correct dock — apparently selected by some sense she never revealed — to meet every vessel that called. She was deaf from birth, which made her gift for anticipating arrivals all the more mysterious.

The original Patsy Ann is buried beneath the waters of the Gastineau Channel. The bronze statue, cast in 1992, shows her sitting attentively, facing the water. It is the first thing many cruise passengers encounter when stepping ashore, and the story on the accompanying plaque is worth reading. Her collar and a history of the real dog are on display in the Alaska State Museum.

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A story
Patsy Ann was a bull terrier who lived in Juneau in the 1930s. She was deaf from birth, yet she somehow knew when a ship was arriving — she would trot down to the correct dock before any sound of the vessel was audible. She was declared the Official Greeter of Juneau by the mayor in 1934, and became famous enough that when she died in 1942, her body was lowered into the Gastineau Channel in a small wooden box to appreciative crowds.