The Raven Pole at Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Walt Disney World's Wilderness Lodge Resort is a popular destination for guests who want to stay close to the Magic Kingdom, but still feel like they're been transported to another time and place. The AAA four diamond rated property, was inspired by the great lodges of the American West and is home to several beautiful pieces of Native American artwork including stunning collection of moccasins, headdresses and some rather extraordinary totem poles.

Simply walking into the stunning 8-story atrium lobby is a breathtaking experience. The cavernous atrium is made almost completely of lodgepole pine imported from the standing dead forest of Oregon. Many guests need to take a moment at the door to simply wonder at the beautiful space, and we highly recommend doing so. Forget about rushing right to the front desk, this lobby is meant to be explored.

On two sides of the massive space stand 55-foot tall totem poles, brilliantly hand carved and painted by one of the world's preeminent Native American historians and totem pole artists. The two totems took over a year to complete, and are named the Eagle totem and the Raven totem for the animals top either pole.

A plaque beneath the impressive Raven Pole reads:

"The Raven Pole, like all totem poles, should read from the bottom to the top. It includes Whale, Cougar, Wren, the bear cub twins, Dolphin, and Salmon and culminates with the story of Raven pulling the sun, moon and stars from a box to light the darkened world. The figures on this pole are common to many tribes of the great Northwest."

You may wonder why these two animals were chosen to be honored in Wilderness Lodge. The answer is because Northwest Native American cultures trace their history back to either the Eagle Clan or the Raven Clan, and in their mythology Raven is honored as a culture hero. Below both the Eagle and the Raven, the stunning totem poles are decorated with dozens of carved animals depicting a variety of stories and myths from those Northwest cultures.

We want to thank our friends over at The Wilderness Lodge Site for sharing all kinds of secrets and facts about this fabulous Walt Disney World resort property. It's one of my favorite hotel hopping destinations, and if you'd like to know more about the legends behind the theme and design be sure to visit The Wilderness Lodge Site for tips, tricks, and stories of Disney's Wilderness Lodge.

Are you a Wilderness Lodge Fan? Leave me a note below and tell me what your favorite part of the grand lobby is!