Alaska State Museum
About This Museum
You might not expect to find a two-story, hand-carved Tlingit war canoe inside a modern building, but that's the Alaska State Museum for you. It feels less like a sterile gallery and more like a treasure chest where every artifact, from a towering polar bear to a delicate gold pan, has a story whispered from the past. They've masterfully woven together millennia of Native heritage with the raw, often chaotic, tales of the Russian and American frontier eras. And it’s not all behind glass—the ‘Discovery Room’ lets the little ones dig for mammoth bones and play in a replica fishing boat, because here, history is something you're meant to touch.
Collection Highlights
The centerpiece is 'The Yaawk' Kwáan Screen,' a stunning Tlingit partition, alongside that massive canoe and an impressive display of Alaskan wildlife. You'll also find intriguing relics from the Russian-America period and a glittering assortment of placer gold.
Visitor Information
Tucked right in downtown Juneau at 395 Whittier Street, it's an essential stop whether it's raining or shining. Just remember to check their hours online before you go, as they can shift with the seasons.
Architecture & Building
From the outside, it's a handsome, contemporary building clad in earthy tones that fits right into its mountainous backdrop near the Juneau-Douglas Bridge.
Contact & Location
Address: Alaska State Library, 395, Whittier Street, Juneau, Alaska, 99802, United States
Phone: +1 907-465-2901
Website: Visit Website
