Find out about Alaska’s people and places in the Museum of the North, a comprehensive museum dedicated to sharing the state’s stories. Explore galleries of ancient and contemporary art from the region, learn about the state’s gold-mining heritage and be awed by video presentations of the northern lights.
Approaching the museum, you’ll note its clean and modern architecture, evoking the sharp lines of a glacier. This sleekly designed wing of the museum opened in 2005 and contains the Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery. Discover an extensive timeline of Alaskan art in this expertly curated space, which features ancient Eskimo carvings from ivory, as well as paintings and sculptures from recent times.
Check out the Gallery of Alaska to find out about the state’s ecology and culture. You’ll see the largest gold display in the state and a collection of Alaskan Native cultural artifacts. Kids will love the mummified Ice Age bison and the gallery’s multimedia displays. Watch videos of the northern lights and presentations on Native Alaskan dances.
An intriguing real-time installation called The Place Where You Go To Listen has elements of sound and light that change throughout the day, based on climatic activity. The museum’s auditorium has a changing program of presentations. Learn about the northern lights and watch a documentary about life during the long Alaskan winters.
Collect an audio guide for your exploration of the museum. This handy feature brings many of the displays to life, with mesmerizing soundscapes, field recordings from the Alaskan wilderness, interviews with the museum curators and insights from Native Alaskan elders.
Stop by the museum’s store to peruse Native Alaskan artworks, jewelry, books and souvenir items for sale.
The Museum of the North is located on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus and is easily accessible via the city’s public transit system. You can also park on-site for a fee. Youth and Alaskan residents receive discounted admission prices. The museum is open daily in summer and closed on Sundays in winter.
