Salford Totem Pole
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Posted by guest on 24th September 2010 at 03:28 PM
Video: Salford Totem Pole unveiled in Trafford
by Tom Rodgers

The Salford Totem Pole has been brought into the light in its completed form, wings and all.

At a special ceremony at the Museum of Museums opposite the Trafford Centre, the Mayor of Trafford cut the ribbon to open the enormous warehouse featuring Victorian buses and trams, classic cars from television history, and Monton lighthouse owner "Barnacle" Phil Austin's replica narrowboat, the Victoria R, among others.

The Trafford Centre is "a medium-term home" for the Pole, says Salford Councillor Steve Coen, who brought the 32ft totem from a dirty lock up in Broughton to full restoration in under a year.

It is displayed at a shallow angle, propped up by two specially-constructed walls. This makes for a very interesting experience, whereby every part of the pole is easily visible, and you can walk under and around it.

They say after the age of 40 you deserve the lines on your face, and this holds true for the Salford Totem Pole. It is great to be able to walk around the pole and put your hands on it, seeing that this vital piece of Salford history - connecting the Docks to the wilds of British Columbia - has really lived.

Now, says Pete Martin, brother of the dear departed Salford Conservation officer Joe Martin, the pole looks even better than it did when it was originally raised outside the Manchester Liners House on Salford Quays in 1969.

Pete has written a song for the occasion, part of which you'll be able to hear on the video.

The Museum of Museums has been open to the public since 20th May. Now tickets cost £14 for an adult, with children 5-16 costing £7. Family tickets are available for £36 for four people.

You can see the entire history of the pole, personal interviews with the Canadian Indian family who flew to Salford to restore it, the opinions of Salford public on the Totem and more, by watching the videos in this Totem Pole section on SalfordOnline.com.

The Salford Totem Pole song courtesy of Pete Martin

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  26th September 2010
It certainly should be Free!! It's a local people's museum which the Trafford Centre should not be attempting to make money out of! Though personally I'd be quite happy to drop a few quid into a donation box towards the museum's upkeep, and I'm sure others would likewise. Anyway I intend visiting very soon so I'll find out. Not so sure about taking photo's in there though as the Centre's security staff are rather sensitive on the issue, I once had to reveal to them in the skittle alley all the snapshots I had on my digital camera.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by TomSO ( member )  25th September 2010
We'd love to have some more photographic contributors to SalfordOnline - that's what we're trying to do here, to create a contemporary history of Salford. I've you go down to the Museum of Museums (and you should) and take any photos, please send them to us for publication and archive to newsdesk@salfordonline.com.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  24th September 2010
poor communication me thinks,it was free when i went today

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by TomSO ( member )  24th September 2010
Oh. I know it's been free since May but I called the Trafford Centre to check and they said they were charging now.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  24th September 2010
The Museum is Free

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  24th September 2010
Nice work, good job as always, makes your proud to be from Salford!

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