The Last Frontier is rich with history and home to talented and passionate craftspeople and artists. Museums around the state provide an amazing opportunity to learn more about the state’s past and present, as well as to see how those who love Alaska the most portray the state through their art. Below is a selection of museums in the state’s largest population centers.

In Anchorage

“Through a combination of art and design, history, science and culture, the Anchorage Museum creates a rich, deep understanding of the human experience and offers something for everyone.”
anchoragemuseum.org

The Alaska Veterans Museum’s mission is to “create a museum for the inspiration, remembrance and preservation of the memory of veterans and of their sacrifices for America’s freedom.”
alaskaveterans.org

“From the Aleutians to the North Slope to the Panhandle, from prehistoric times to the present, the Alaska Museum of Science & Nature takes young and old alike on a learning adventure around the state.”
alaskamuseum.org

“The Alaska Jewish Museum tells the stories of Alaska’s Jewish residents and their contributions to the development of Alaska’s industries, government, and culture from territorial days to the present… [offering] exhibits and programming to demonstrate the living connections between the past and the present.”
alaskajewishmuseum.com

“The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a living cultural center… that promotes active observance of Alaska Native culture and traditions, featuring permanent collections and educational programs.”
alaskanative.net

“Located on the world’s largest seaplane base, Lake Hood, at Anchorage International Airport, the Alaska Aviation Museum celebrates Alaska’s rich aviation history.”
alaskaairmuseum.org

In Fairbanks

“Through a combination of art and design, history, science and culture, the Anchorage Museum creates a rich, deep understanding of the human experience and offers something for everyone.”
anchoragemuseum.org

“The University of Alaska Museum of the North is a thriving visitor attraction, a vital component of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the only research and teaching museum in Alaska.”
uaf.edu/museum

Antique Auto Museum and step back into an amazing time in history… With a world-class collection of vintage automobiles and period fashions complemented by fascinating exhibits, accessories, photographs, and archival videos, we welcome you on a vivid journey through the automotive age, from Victorian times through the Art Deco era.”
fountainheadmuseum.com

“The Fairbanks Children’s Museum provides a rich environment that stimulates children’s natural curiosity and creativity… The interactive museum environment offers children unique opportunities for discovery, to freely and joyfully explore, engage, and connect with the world in which we live.”
fairbankschildrensmuseum.com

In Juneau

“The Juneau-Douglas City Museum fosters among its diverse audiences an awareness of Juneau’s cultural heritage, values, and community memory so we may draw strength and perspective from the past, inspire learning, and find purpose for the future.”
juneau.org/library/museum

“Sealaska Heritage Institute is a private nonprofit founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. Its goal is to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding through public services and events.”
sealaskaheritage.org

“The Alaska State Museums identify, collect, preserve, and exhibit Alaska’s material and natural history and provide public access to services and collections of the museums.”
museums.alaska.gov/asm

In the Mat-Su

[The Museum of Alaska Transportation and History] was established to give a home to transportation and industrial remnants and to tell the stories of the people and the machines that opened Alaska to exploration and growth.”
museumofalaska.org

“The Colony House Museum and outbuildings display rural life in the Matanuska Valley during the heyday of the colony. While originally the home of Oscar and Irene Beylund on tract 94, this house, one of five styles available, reflects an average colonist family’s home.”
palmerhistoricalsociety.org/colony-house-museum/

“The Palmer Museum of History and Art is dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting, and promoting the history and art of the Palmer region while providing various opportunities for residents and visitors alike that allow for a greater understanding of the region’s history and culture.”
palmermuseum.org