“If you’ve ever driven by Kalama, Washington, you’ve probably seen the massive Lelooska totem pole standing tall near the Columbia River,” Patrick Allmaras posted on the Northwest Coast Native Carvers Facebook page. 

“At 140 feet, it’s one of the tallest totem poles in the world! But after decades of braving the elements, it needed some serious TLC. So, in a feat of restoration magic, the Port of Kalama teamed up with the Lelooska Foundation to bring this legend back to life.”

” … It took over 700 pounds of epoxy to stabilize the wood, ensuring the pole could be preserved for generations to come,” Allmaras explained. “Instead of standing it back up outside, they found it a new home inside the Mountain Timber Market in Kalama — where visitors can now walk alongside this incredible piece of history … Seeing the intricate carvings up close, and even spotting the base of the original tree was a surreal experience”

Chief Lelooska was the artist who carved the pole. His name, given to him at age 12, means “He Who Cuts Against Wood with a Knife,” according to the Lekoosa Foundation & Cultural Center. Of Cherokee descent, he was interested in the histories of all tribes, but especially “The Cedar and Salmon People,” the northwest coast tribes. Diligently working to preserve their arts as his life work, he died in 1996.

“You don’t usually get to appreciate a totem pole like this,” Allmaras added. “Most of the time, you’re craning your neck to see the top!” (Photos: Patrick Allmaras/Lekoosa Foundation)