Anchorage Museum
A fantastic place to spend a cold, snowy winter (or summer) day.
This is the beautiful view you walk up to as you approach the Anchorage Museum.The Anchorage Museum is four floors of perfectly curated Alaska history. The large building houses several different exhibitions all celebrating Alaska’s past. Enter the grand lobby, pay the entry fee, and make your way toward the exhibits. Don’t forget to drop your coat and other belongings in the free lockers by the Patricia B. Wolf Family Galleries on the first floor. I recommend starting on the fourth floor and descending the levels until you reach the ground floor.
The fourth floor of the museum holds the Chugach gallery. A small sampling of the Native Alaskan culture in the greater Anchorage area. The landing by the stairs/elevator opens up to an expansive view of the Alaskan Mountain Range to the east of Anchorage. When we were there, the sun was starting to set, and the mountains looked stunning from our vantage point. I highly recommend taking a picture or two out the massive windows. The gallery is the smallest of the museum, but there is a lot of information about the Alaskan Native people that are the guardians of the land around Anchorage.
The room pictured above housed the ability to be your own DJ and mix two songs together. Thank you Sam and Jaden for allowing me to post you!The third floor of the museum is dedicated to the sounds of Alaska. As you enter the exhibit, you are greeted by the sound of a raging river with a beautiful black and white representation of a wave. Wind your way through the different rooms where you can be your own DJ, sing karaoke, send morse code, or listen to different Alaska radio stations. (For the sake of your eardrums, I won’t post a video of my karaoke singing.) I think my favorite part was the room that had blue dots on the floor. When you jumped into the dots, it would create a sound. This floor was incredibly interactive and a lot of fun!
The second level is broken up into several sections. The first section is the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center. This exhibit has a large selection of beautiful, handcrafted pieces from each of the major Native Alaskan tribal groups. As you walk amongst the beautiful glass cases, you will be amazing by the craftsmanship of these pieces. They are all created using locally sources materials and traditional methods. Personally, the beadwork and the baskets are my favorite. There are many stunning pieces in this collection, each classified by which tribal group the items belong to. I am constantly in awe of the attention to detail and love each item is infused with.
The Art of the North Galleries reside on the third floor, but are only assessable from the second floor. The art included in these galleries are either created by Native Alaskans, or they were created based on Alaska scenery. These galleries contain enough art for you to spend an entire afternoon studying each piece. You will find spectacular likenesses of the Alaska landscape painted as far back as the early 1800s. My favorite section of these galleries is the section that was created by Native Alaskan artists. Each artwork has the creator’s information, as well as a little bit behind what the piece means. I highly recommend reading what inspired each piece of art. You will find much of the history of the Alaskan Native people represented in these stunning art pieces.
The last exhibit on the second floor is an interactive exhibit talking about all the different aspects of life in Alaska. Alaska is a state that has something for everyone. Its past and its present have created a people that are truly unique. The Alaska exhibit gives you a brief history into this rich, vibrant land and the people that call this place home. Of all the exhibits at the museum, this exhibit has the most sci-fi feel, which I greatly enjoyed. Don’t skip over this exhibit. You really do need to experience it for yourself.
Jaden enjoying the hands-on experience of being in a person sized bubble.The first floor houses the Patricia B Wolf Family Galleries, as well as a large hands-on section of the museum. These galleries are filled with artwork using interesting mediums. I particularly liked a fully beaded swirl of colored flowers and the piece that looked like it had ice elk antlers protruding from the bottom of a barrel. These art pieces are as unique as the materials used in their creation. The other main section of the museum is a hands-on section. You are able to create your own earthquakes, learn about the aurora, visit the planetarium, or watch the crabs in the underwater tanks. I enjoyed the interactive topographic table. Moving the sparkling sand to create a new topographic representation of the table was incredibly fun.
Leaving the museum is almost as magical as the exhibits when the pathways are light up with colored lights.I have been to many museums throughout my travels. The Anchorage Museum has a wide variety of exhibits for a variety of interests. The building itself is a work of art, with panoramic views of the city and surrounding landscape, tall ceilings, and well curated exhibits. The next time I have friends or family come to town, I will definitely add this stop to our list. The museum’s prime location means you can easily explore the downtown area if you have time after your visit. Luckily, there is a cafe in the museum, or you can walk to one of the several restaurants close by. If you would like more information on the current exhibits displayed or special event information, click here for direct access to the museum website. I look forward to finding more gems like the museum this winter.
Happy Traveling,
Kat