Editing Totem pole (section)

===Memorial pole===
This type of pole, which usually stands in front of a clan house, is erected about a year after a person has died. The clan chief's memorial pole may be raised at the center of the village.<ref name=Newman19/> The pole's purpose is to honor the deceased person and identify the relative who is taking over as his successor within the clan and the community. Traditionally, the memorial pole has one carved figure at the top, but an additional figure may also be added at the bottom of the pole.<ref name=Feldman13/>

Memorial poles may also commemorate an event. For example, several memorial totem poles were erected by the [[Tlingit]]s in honor of Abraham Lincoln, one of which was [[Saxman Totem Park|relocated to Saxman]], Alaska, in 1938.<ref>Garfield and Forrest, p. 55.</ref> The Lincoln pole at Saxman commemorates the end of hostilities between two rival Tlingit clans and symbolizes the hope for peace and prosperity following the American occupation of the Alaskan territory.<ref>Garfield and Forrest, p. 54.</ref> The story begins in 1868, when the United States government built a customs house and fort on [[Tongass Island]] and left the US revenue cutter ''Lincoln'' to patrol the area. After American soldiers at the fort and aboard the ''Lincoln'' provided protection to the Tongass group against its rival, the Kagwantans, the Tongass group commissioned the Lincoln pole to commemorate the event.<ref>Barbeau, "Totem Poles: According to Crests and Topics", pp. 402–405.</ref><ref>Garfield and Forrest, pp. 54–55.</ref>