museums & heritage sites With more than 60 museums and cultural centers throughout the state, learn about the 20+ distinct Alaska Native cultures for a better understanding and appreciation of those who have inhabited the land for 10,000 years. ANCHORAGE MUSEUM , Anchorage Admire more than 600 pieces of Alaska Native art, tools, and other historical objects from the Smithsonian, surrounded by screens showcasing contemporary life. ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE CENTER YUPIIT PICIRYARAIT CULTURAL CENTER , Bethel Find more than 2,500 artifacts from the Athabascan, Cup’ik, and Yup’ik cultures, including carvings from whale bone! ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE CENTER , Anchorage Here you can learn a traditional Yup’ik dance, take a jam-making or tail-weaving class, or walk the authentic dwellings situated around Lake Tiulana. IÑUPIAT HERITAGE CENTER , Utqiaġvik Learn about whaling as well as migratory birds, and a summer program lets you participate in a demonstration of Iñupiat dance. To explore more, visit TravelAlaska.com/CulturalTours UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA MUSEUM OF THE NORTH , Fairbanks Check out mammoth and mastodon fossils along with 2.5 million artifacts that depict Alaska’s natural and cultural history. SEALASKA HERITAGE INSTITUTE , Juneau Masterful art representative of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian tribes are not to be missed (they’re so massive, you can’t), and if you’re lucky you’ll catch a visiting artist doing a carving or weaving demonstration. NORTHWEST ARCTIC HERITAGE CENTER , Kotzebue At this museum dedicated to Iñupiaq culture, immerse yourself in life-size dioramas depicting their life and listen to first-person stories. SAXMAN NATIVE VILLAGE , Ketchikan Take in the largest collection of standing totem poles, watch carvers at work, and take in a performance of traditional song and dance by members of the Tlingit tribe. ALASKA STATE MUSEUM , Juneau Modern on the outside, on display within is a comprehensive look at the state’s history, including exhibits of ancient to contemporary Alaska Native art. ALUTIIQ MUSEUM, Kodiak Displaying one of the largest collections of Sugpiaq artifacts in the state, the Alutiiq Museum also features a museum store that sells Alaska Native art and jewelry. @amyonanairplane SITKA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK 11
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