Alaska Museums
Early Cultures and Times

Alaska museums have variety, from ancient historical to modern times, but they all have that "ice age flavor"!



In the FAR NORTH:

Inupiat Heritage Center:

Dedicated to the preservation of the traditions, language and culture of the Eskimos, native museums provide needed instruction to younger generations. Includes classes in traditional arts and crafts as well as displays of present and past cultural activities.

Cultural Programs/Craft Sales: Saturdays-May 15 - Sep 15 - 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM.
Monthly-Third Wednesday-Science/Cultural Meetings-6:00 PM-9:00 PM.
Feb/Mar Weekends-hosting whaling crew preparations, such as skin sewing and building umiaqs (large walrus hide boats).

Open all year long, Monday - Friday. Hours: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Location: 5421 North Star Street, Barrow, Alaska.
Contact Information: P 0. Box 749 Barrow, Alaska 99723, Phone: 1-907-852-4594 or 1-907-852-0422

In FAIRBANKS:

Alaska Museum of the North - Part of the University of Alaska Campus at 907 Yukon Drive:

Exhibits:
The Alaska Museum of the North has 10 Collections:

• Archaeology - A huge collection (over 750,000 pieces) of artifacts from as old as 13,000 years ago to historical times, mostly from the Arctic Region.
• Earth Science - Plant and animal fossils, including the world's largest collection of polar dinosaurs! It also has a mineral and gem collection from Alaska and Canada.
• Entomology - A huge collection of insect specimens from Alaska and neighboring areas including Canada and Russia.
• Ethnology - More than 12,000 objects made by Alaska Natives from the 1800s to the present. It also includes over 2,600 historical objects from the the pioneering lifestyle of Alaska, the gold rush days and other memorabilia representing its history and culture.
• Documentary Film - This is a collection made since the 1970s. It has films, videos and sound-recordings of this northern land and its changes.
• Fine Arts - More than 3,700 works of Alaskan art, both historic and modern. Featured artists include Sydney Laurence, Theodore Lambert, James Stewart, Eustace Ziegler, Jules Dahlager.
• Herbarium - The largest single collection of Alaska plants.
• Icthyology - This simple means a collection of fish. It contains both fresh and saltwater fishes of the region.
• Mammals - A huge collection of Alaskan wildlife specimens, including one of the best marine life collections in the world.
• Ornithology - A huge collection of Alaskan bird specimens. Since birds migrate here from very long distances, there is a great variety.

There are additional fees for some of the activities, so do check with them.

Alaska Museum of the North -
Summer Hours: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM-May 15 to Sep 15
Winter Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM-Sep 16 to May 14
Open six days per week. It closes on Sundays and two Holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas

Admission Fees for 2009: $10 general admission, $9 senior (60+), $5 youth (7-17), Free for museum members, UA students with ID and children under 7
Admission Fees for 2010: $12 general admission, $10 senior (60+), $6 youth (7-17), Free for museum members, UA students with ID and children under 7.

Directions to the Alaska Museum of the North:
From the West Side of Fairbanks - From the Park Highway, turn left at Sheep Creek Road Extension. Follow it and turn right on Sheep Creek Road (also labeled as West Tanana Drive). This turns into Noatak Drive which ends in a traffic circle (round-about). Take the 3rd road off of this which will be Kantishna Drive (Tanana Loop). Turn right when reach Yukon Drive. It's less than 1/2 mile to the Museum. The driveway into the Museum is just past Sheenjek Drive, on the left.
From the East Side of Fairbanks - Follow the New Richardson Highway until you reach Airport Way. Turn left and go about 3 miles, then turn right at University Avenue. Shortly after the name changes to Farmers Loop Road, you'll turn left at Taku Drive. It dead-ends at Tanana Drive, so turn right, then turn left at the next road, which is Yukon Drive and go about a 1/2 mile, passing the University Building. Just west of that, you'll find the Museum on your right.

Contact Information: Phone: 1-907-474-7505 Fax: 1-907-474-5469

In VALDEZ:

Valdez Museum:

Has temporary and changing exhibits as well as the permanent collections. This Alaska Museum is located in two buildings, four blocks apart. Come to the main Valdez Museum first for an overview of our history.

Permanent Exhibits at the main Valdez Museum - At 217 Egan Drive

• They Came for the Gold - All about the hardy early pioneers and their struggles to find gold. A rare collection of black and white photos from that time.
• A Beacon of the Past - History of Cape Hinchinbrook Lighthouse that guides ships safely into Prince William Sound.
• The Richardson Highway - From wagon trail to modern road. The history of the first Alaskan Highway.
• Fire Engines - A complete list of fire engines used in Valdez from early days.
• Disaster on Good Friday - Brief display of 1964 Earthquake and damage done by the Tidal Wave (see rest of exhibit below).
• A new Valdez - The beginning of Alaska Pipeline days.
• The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill - Another tragedy of days gone by and all that happened.

Collections - An Alaska Museum that has numerous collections of old photos, newspapers, documents, diaries and other memorabilia from its 100+ year history - many from the gold rush days. Relive this time of major excitement and enterprise. It also has collections of major events and activities from the town's history, such as 11 years of the "extreme" world skiing championships. Or the collection of 2000 books published between 1898 and now, that give you a good record of the happenings from early days.

Summer Hours - May 16 - Sep 5, Open Daily: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Winter Hours - Open Jan 1-May 14 and Sep 6-Dec 31, Monday - Saturday: 1 - 5 pm, Closed Sunday

Remembering Old Valdez - Located on the waterfront, at the site of Old Valdez - 436 South Hazelet. An accurate model of the original town to help people remember it as it was, before the 1964 tidal wave. The town moved to its new location after this tragedy.

These museums portray the great significance of Valdez in Alaskan history!

Summer Hours: - May 16 - Sep 5, Open Daily 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Winter Hours - Open by Appointment Only - Sep 6-May 15

Admission Fees: Kids (12 and under) - Free, Youth (13-17) - $5.00, Seniors 60+ - $5.50, Adults (18-59) - $6.00
Phone: 1-907-835-2764

In PALMER-WASILLA area:

Alaska Museum of Transportation and Industry:

This Alaska museum has a fascinating variety of vehicles, tools and equipment from Alaska's early days. In addition to the "real thing" restorations of old vehicles, they also have models and photos. Not only do they have tractors, trucks, trains and planes, they also have relics of old gas stations, radio parts and other miscellaneous remnants of the past.

But it's not limited just to those items. You'll also find a railroad section house and a barn from one of the early pioneer families.

An Alaska museum that is alive and growing. It hosts activities and events with community involvement and to fund their projects.A great place to spend an day.

2009 Summer Hours: 10 AM - 5 PM - 7 days a week. Closed October 1 to April 30. Phone: 1-907-376-1211
Location: 3800 W. Museum Drive, (Mile 47 Parks Highway), Wasilla, Alaska

In ANCHORAGE:

The Anchorage Museum:

This Alaska museum has two major permanent collections: 1) The history of Anchorage's early years from 1910 to 1935
2) The Art of the North collection with historical as well as modern artworks by famous as well as newer Alaskan artists. Includes artworks of Sydney Lawrence, John Webber, Fred Machetanz, Theodore Richardson, James Everett Stewart and others.

In addition to its permanent art exhibits, it also hosts a juried competition each year for Alaskan artists.

Not to be outdone by any other Alaska museum, the 2nd floor of the Anchorage Museum has 15,000 square feet of space devoted to the history of Alaska. Everything from the history and culture of its native inhabitants, to the Russian settlements, gold rush days, world war II and when Alaska became a state. These displays cover just about every aspect of the development of Alaska from its early days to present.

The Anchorage Museum also hosts many traveling and changing exhibits. These include a great emphasis on aspects of Alaska's history and changing times, as well as exhibits on other cultures.

Always with something great in store for you. This one you should not miss when you are in Anchorage.

Admission Fees: Up to 17 - Free ($2.00 donation suggested). Adults-$8.00, Seniors/military/students with ID-$7.00

Location: 625 C Street, Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: 1-907-929-9200, Fax: 1-907-929-9290, E-mail: museum@AnchorageMuseum.org

Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum:

This is a particularly fascinating Alaska museum for those who are interested in how Alaska was developed. Airplanes definitely had a major part in it. And airplanes are just as important today as they were then.

They either have the damaged relics, photos or restorations of some of the actual planes with a famous history in Alaska. You'll also read about and see photos of famous people that appear in Alaska's aviation history.

There were a lot of Alaskan pilots who made "firsts" in aviation history. Or who made courageous flights, the like of which you don't hear about today. One Alaskan pilot made the first 2,200 mile flight over the North Pole, from Alaska to Norway. And mind you, this was back in 1928, when you practically had to hang a string out the window of the aircraft to find out which direction the wind was blowing. It's not like they had any modern flight instruments!

Directions: Go toward the airport on International Airport Road. Take turnoff toward the North (International) Terminal on Postmark Drive, then the next right on Heliport Drive. Take an immediate right and follow aircraft taxiway until you reach the museum. Go between Rust's Flying Service and the Museum. Park by the lake near entrance. Brown signs along the way say "Air Museum."

Summer Hours: May 15–Sep 15, daily - 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Winter Hours: Sep 16–May 14 - 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Wed - Sun, closed Mon and Tue

Admission Fees: Children (5 - 12) $6.00, Students (over 12) $8.00, Adults (over 18) $10.00, Seniors (over 65) $8.00
Reduced Admission: School Groups $3.00 per person
FREE Admission: Small Children (0 -4), Active Military, Veterans, and AAHM Members FREE

Oscar Anderson House in Elderberry Park:

A little Alaska museum in itself, the Oscar Anderson house, built in 1915, was the first wood-frame in Anchorage. It has been completely restored and gives a good look at those early days. There are picnic areas and playground nearby. It is listed with the National Register of Historic Places.

Location: 420 M Street, Anchorage. Follow 5th Avenue all the way west, down over the hill, then turn right on M Street. It's right near Cook Inlet, giving some beautiful views of the area.

Hours: Mid-May through Mid-September. Phone: 1-907-274-2336

Some of the Alaska museums above have sections devoted to Natural History. But I can tell you a few other museums that are specifically Alaska natural history museums...

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