Proposed methods for recovery and preservation of totem poles in Southeast Alaska are reviewed. A brief history of the totemic art form and of the development of totem poles is followed by an appraisal of the condition of the poles at abandoned Indian villages and totem parks. The characteristics of wood decay, the natural decay resistance of western red cedar wood used for poles, and the limitations of preservatives are considered. For poles to be maintained in outdoor exposures, fumigation to be followed by preservative application is suggested. For poles to be moved to protected environments, care in drying and the need for consolidation treatments are recognized.