The Chief Johnson totem pole stands in a small park at the corner of Stedman and Dock Streets in the centre of town — a convenient and free introduction to totem culture within walking distance of the ferry dock. The current pole is a 1989 replica of the original carved in the 1890s for Chief Johnson, a Tlingit leader of the Ganaxadi clan. The original is preserved at the Totem Heritage Center.
The pole depicts Raven at the top, followed by a series of figures representing clan crests and a story from Tlingit oral tradition. The carving was done by Israel Shotridge, one of the most respected Tlingit carvers of the twentieth century, who also completed several poles for Saxman.