The pole was initially created in 1902 under commission from Chief George Johnson, who was the head of the Drifting Ashore House () of the Tongass tribe. It was carved to honor the death of Johnson's mother. The original pole was made of
yellow cedar and penetrated 18 feet into the ground, which contributed to it being damaged by water. The pole was taken down in 1982 due to its deteriorated state. The original pole remains in storage at the
Totem Heritage Center. The pole was recreated in 1989 to signify the original settlement of the Tongass tribe. It was carved by Israel Shotridge (), a member of the Bear clan of the Tongass tribe, to honor the Raven clan of the tribe. The modern pole does not penetrate the ground like the previous one but rather is mounted on a creosote log above ground. The dedication ceremony of the new pole was attended by 1,200 people from nearby villages, and a day-long celebration was held. The pole has been restored in 1992 and 2018. According to art historian Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank, the Chief Johnson totem pole is the most photographed totem pole in Alaska. ==Description==