I LOVE the Anchorage Museum. Yes compared to other large city museums it's on the smaller scale, but it's still fantastic. The Smithsonian Alaska exhibit is truly amazing, and such a great piece of history. Honestly my favorite part about the Anchorage Museum is the classes offered, the after hour events, the seed lab, the lending museum, (which is part of the seed lab) and the perks of buying a membership. There are so many cool classes offered for kids and adults and I feel like not that many people know about them. I'd encourage everyone to look up the events calendar on the website and see what they have coming up. Movie screenings, silent discos, Pink Floyd at the planetarium and then there are the member perks. They offer really cool behind the scenes tours and great discounts on classes and entry fees for members. They also offer free entrance days maybe once a month, so the price CAN be accessible to everyone. read more

Anchorage Museum - Watercolor class with David Rosenthal. - Museums Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

The Museum is located in Downtown Anchorage, across from the Anchorage Mall, with an attractive architectural design fronted by a lovely grove of birch trees. I found it odd that the Museum's underground parking is only available to patrons at night and on weekends. Given the temps and homelessness, pushing patrons onto the street/area surface lots seemed counterintuitive. While many of the Museum's galleries offer strong, sometimes dated, points of view (i.e. on COVID vaccination rates and opinions from 2020), the Museum has a loan from the Smithsonian collection showing Alaska native cultural heritage pieces on the 2nd floor. This history alone is worth a studious and extended visit. The "dog" gallery is equally captivating, and the cafe was both welcoming and refreshing. Areas designed for children, while mostly holding our 5 & 7 year olds' interests, were fairly rudimentary without consistently clear learning goals for the well-travelled. At $25/ea for a regular adult, it's a good one-time experience. read more

One of my favorite museums I've ever been to! Four levels, all with interactive elements. The first level emphasizes the Iditarod, and a discovery center which even as adults we enjoyed. They have an arts room which we did not explore, but I imagine they do some cool classes! The planetarium offers a variety of shows, I higher recommend River of Bears, it was about 25 mins and is $6 in top of admission. The aurora one was kind of a let down, but still good. Second level is all about Alaskan history, starting with the land, and all about all of the various tribes. There was also an art gallery that was impressive in its own right. Third level was my favorite, and showcased a gallery of paintings that showcase the changes in glaciers over the years all done by the same artist. Very moving. There was also a section on the Cold War and the impact on Alaska and a glimpse in to the future. Fourth level was the shortest with a brief modern art gallery. We spent a full 8 hours here and loved every minute. Stunning space, very modern and well kept. read more

Anchorage Museum - Featured in the Iditarod gallery - Museums Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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Great little musium. Give yourself at least 3 hours to see everything. There are homeless that hang out on the grounds. If you ignore them, all is fine. Nice grounds with interesting statues. Take a look if in the area. read more

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This is a great museum that showcases some Alaskan history. Located in Downtown Anchorage, it's a block or so from the 5th Avenue Mall. Some of the installation in there are pretty cool. If you are a Bank of America customer, they offer free admission every first weekend of the month as part of their Museum on Us program. read more

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Went to the Anchorage Museum for an event last night and really enjoyed the atmosphere. The event was catered however the Museum has their own food to purchase when you visit. The place was very clean and nicely decorated with artifacts and artwork. During the event there was a Hawaiian band known as H3 and the acoustics were set up perfectly. I highly recommend going here to see Alaska history and more, but also if you have a big party event this is a nice choice. read more

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What a cool museum! There's a variety of things to see here. They do such a good job of integrating different types of exhibits in it. It's a lovely and well organized mix of science, fine and modern art, and historical exhibitions. I love that they have a dedicated area for toddlers/children. They did a really good job with it incorporating live animals, a play room, and even a planetarium! Gift shop is full of interesting things. The outdoor area is also nice especially when they have lunch on the lawn on Tuesdays. It's a very nice building inside and out. read more

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Located at Downtown Anchorage, this museum has a loan from the Smithsonian collection showing Alaska native cultural heritage pieces at the 2nd floor; it is not free though. It has artworks showcasing landscapes of the north and wildlife, some maps of the north as well as some installation art. It's not a very large museum; though depending on each person, one can likely go around the entire museum in ~2 hours. The Cold War to the Cosmos exhibit is nice, full of history, art, geography. Don't expect to see works of Caravaggio, van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, Rembrandt here though. read more

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Took my daughter to get us out of the house and it was a good time. We went on sat which was a free day I recommend checking the website to find these days because it's great for a single mom on a budget. Zoe had a great time they have a nice area for kids to do a lot of hands on crafts and learning experiences. This particular day they had something of a craft fair as well. The museum is full of some great art work and we truly enjoyed the experience. read more

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I could spend all day here. Nice mix of history, new and old art. If you live in the area I'd recommend getting a membership because you will want to go back! read more

We wandered around downtown for a bit, checking out some of the kitschy shops, before finally deciding to head into the Anchorage Museum. In hindsight, we should've come here first. This place is awesome. The exhibits were so interesting and varied that we completely lost track of time and ended up missing all the planetarium shows. The space itself is fantastic, beautifully laid out, modern, and full of unexpected experiences. One of our favorite parts was the exhibit contrasting Alaska's native populations by region, especially how their clothing and materials adapted to their environments. It was detailed, thoughtful, and visually striking. We spent about two hours here but could've easily stayed for another hour or more. If you're in Anchorage, don't make our mistake, start your day here. read more

An excellent way to spend 2-3 hours in downtown Anchorage. We'll set up exhibits in conjunction with The w Smithsonian. Informative and fun with Sour Dough humor! Third Thursdays a real bargain at $5 pp. must pay for parking either on street or lot for about $2 per hour! read more

It's great to have such a large museum in the City. There were many applied physics demonstrations which are interesting. I enjoyed some of the Alaskan art paintings and wished there were more landscape paintings. There was a featured exhibition on comics which was good. read more

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I am so happy we visited this museum! If you like history, they got you. If you like art, they got you. I like both and found some of the art simply stunning! We started our visit on the history side of the building with the Smithsonian exhibit. So comprehensive! I have always loved ceremonial masks from all cultures so this was right in my wheelhouse. This side of the museum also contained some audio exhibits that were amazing and interactive. The sound room was so cool! I could have just sat there for hours if I was by myself with no time to be anywhere else. Next, we visited the art side. The hubs hung with me on the first floor where the rotating exhibit was. This was filled with a lot of art from contemporary Alaskan artists. Lots of different styles, mixed medias and so on. The photo of the piece with the neon is in this wing. Next, I moved on to the second floor. This is where my very patient husband waited for me the the lounge/cafe area on the first floor while I explored. He was not the only spouse doing so either! I saw other patrons exploring the art exhibits on their own and then noticed a corresponding number of people chilling in the lounge by themselves (lol). Anyway, this is where a permanent collection of drawings and paintings resides along with an amazing photography exhibit of Bradford Washburn, and a couple large galleries of more contemporary pieces (ie. Pink Bear.) I discovered some artists I want to learn more about (Washburn, Eustice Zeigler and Carl Saxild.) There was a lot of great pieces throughout the museum but those 3 artists I mentioned had paintings that really spoke to me. If you come to Anchorage and don't go here you are making a mistake! I am a huge museum enthusiast and this is one of my favorites. read more

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This is the best thing in Anchorage. Very well done displays about the history of the native cultures and modern society.

Anchorage Museum exceeded expectations, and expectations were high. Close to downtown, clean, many docents to ask questions of. The various exhibitions were well designed & described, with many artifacts and photos. The indigenous peoples exhibit was informative. We especially liked the dog exhibit. Some hands on elements to most exhibits for the kid in all of us, and a full children's center. The cafe food was good with many beverage selections. While eating we heard the announcement for the Planetarium show. That day the show was about the wildlife of Alaska. A perfect start to our land&sea tour of Alaska and the Yukon. read more

Don't skip this museum! A fantastic blend of history, art, and science, with enough variety in exhibits to appeal to a wide age range. Incredibly well curated museum that balances ancient history with modern developments in Alaska. Our group of adults and tweens had a blast. The interactive bioluminescence exhibit was a huge hit, as was the gorgeous Alaska Native section that showcases the incredible innovation and adaptability of Alaska's First Peoples-- inventors of snowshoes, sunglasses, and waterproof clothing! The cafe downstairs isn't cheap, but the food was very good. My sons liked the seafood chowder and the adults all enjoyed their sandwiches and salads. read more

I love the local art from Alaska. Since this is a combination of the old Imaginarium, it also includes fun hands on learning activities for kids including a bubble wand! They also have touch tanks. So you get not only a Museam of art, history of Alaska and native culture, plus live animals and a planet to watch cool films on a round cinemas! read more

Pros: 10/10 what a great museum! It's got something for everyone. It's very nicely curated, I was highly impressed by the selection. The science area was interactive and very fun. I also loved the bean bag rest area. Cons: Limited parking. read more

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Trivia: T or F - one can find a large pink bear on display (possibly dancing!?). Whether checking out the intricate and meticulous display of Alaska Native artifacts, or perusing of the many awesome rotating exhibits, the Anchorage Museum is a go to place for learning. Well-lit art displays. Lots of natural light streaming in. Cool hallways with mini exhibits one can peruse with a slow and keen eye. I've particularly enjoyed the research done on Alaska's African Americans, the surfing photography, the women of the north, and the exhibit on cacophonies and discord. And once you're done with perusing, there's the delightful Museum Store. Great toys, journals, books, and some really cool ties. Haven't made it to the Planetarium/theater yet, but excited to try it out. The staff are friendly and helpful. The museum clean and organized. Over the summer, they sponsored several educational bike rides around town with presentations along the way. I took part in the Friends of Fish Creek Ride which had a plethora of educational information about the local waterways (and the changes to them over time). Super informative and fun! Sign up for their newsletter to find out about the many events (many free) that they host or sponsor throughout the year. Try out the membership. It means one can stop by for a short hour here and there and experience the museum in small bits. read more

Nice space. It's a science museum, natural history museum and art museum all wrapped up one. Beautiful grounds as well. read more

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This museum is AMAZING with a capital A. It is the best art museum that I have been to by far. It is very clean and well organized. They have lockers available that you can rent. It is an art museum, a children's museum, a history museum, a native museum, and a cafe all rolled into one. The museum is a lot bigger than it looks and features a contemporary and modern art exhibits. But the art starts before you even get into the museum. The building itself is a work of art and they have placed sculptures and murals around its grounds that it acquired through the 1% For Art program. The front has most of the outdoor art exhibits and is like a little park/plaza that people hang out during nice weather. They are all pretty nice and set the tone for the inside of teh meseum The art in this museum is cutting edge. My favorite was Paola Pivi: Lies, Lies, Lies which is a temporary exhibit that takes up the entire 4th floor. It is a room made of video screens that are playing a loop of videos while telling something that is a truth or lie. I also liked the illuminated globe exhibit (World Processor by Ingo Günther) and the interactive water beating the drum exhibit (DRRRUMMERRRRRR by Nikita Gale). They are also unique pieces and very instagramable. Other notable exbhits includes Christina Seely's Dissonance and Disturbance, Stuart Hyatt's Stations, Borealis: Life in the Woods, and Counter Cartographies: Living the Land that features a bunch of interactive immersive and trendy pieces. This museum has some cutting edge and interactive exhibits, some are videos, some are paintings, some are photos, and some are sculptures. It is definitely a must visit. On the 1st floor you will find the cafe where they have a huge atrium/lounge area and offer coffee, drinks, and light snacks. There is also an auditorium on that level where they were playing an exhibit of Christina Seely's Dissonance and Disturbance on the big screen. Another section on the 1st floor is dedicated to a children's area called the Discovery Center. You can do little science experiments such as blow bubbles through oil, see (not touch) some huge star fish, a planetarium, an art lab and a play area. It is very nice and is on par with many stand alone discovery centers that I have visited. There is also a large Native Alaskan exhibit on the 2 floor titled Living our Cultures, Sharing our Heritage: The First Peoples of Alaska, complete with art, videos, information placards, artifacts and exhibits. There is also a nice photo op with an Alaska background that leads into the permanent Alaska Exhibition. You can do an interactive cave writing exhibit there and see the Alaska in the Movie Exhibit there. Opposite that exhibit area is a colorful polar bear sculpture group and some traditional paintings and contemporary sculptures in a gallery, Art of the North. It is a very nice gallery. The second floor is the heat of the museum if you ask me and houses all the permanent exhibits. The staff here is awesome. They are very friendly. They have security roving through the galleries and they are not overbearing or rude and are willing to help. I easily spent a half of a day here and did not know it. Parking here is relatively easy even though they do not have their own dedicated parking lot. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance and well as tons of commercial parking lots and garages. If you can only do one thing while you are in Anchorage. This should have your highest consideration for that honor. It is amazing and while set the bar high for art museums to follow. I was amazed at not only the amount of art it has, but the quality and innovation as well. read more

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Had a great time with my grandparents while they were visiting. Lots of cool art and history to explore.

This museum has a great mix of old and new art, as well as art from colonizers and art from indigenous people. And it's not just art: there are many artifacts here displayed in a way that helps you to understand the native people. There are also great videos and it looks like there are great programs that happen here. I'm so glad that we took the time on our short trip to Anchorage to visit. read more

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This place is a fantastic place to spend several hours or event the whole day if you're thorough. There's a lot to see and interact with that is great for people of all ages. It's fantastic learning about the culture of Alaska since Alaska houses many indigenous people. There also also exhibits that focus on science and nature, which is also amazing. Lastly there is an art component that highlights the beauty of Alaskan art and artists. Anthropological, artistic, and scientific museums are usually separated, so it's nice to see them combined, which makes this museum appeal to anyone's interests. Even through there are a lot of nature based activities to do in Anchorage, sometimes it's nice to be able to slow down the pace and enjoy learning about this amazing state! If you're in Anchorage, I'd say that this is a must see activity! read more

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What a great museum! It has something for everyone! We started out looking through the huge collection of Native People art and artifacts. It really brought home the difficulty of Survival in this harsh environmet. The beauty and embellishments added to functional items speaks to the cultural sophistication of these early people. There is an exhibit on the black community of Alaska covering joy and journey and justice. On a lighter note is the purely creative part of the museum featuring classical and contemporary art. You gotta go if only to see the pink bear. It is a lot of museum to see in one visit and is worth coming back. I could have spent an hour in the hands on Discovery center. This eclectic museum is definitely a must see destination in Anchorage. read more

Anchorage Museum - Entrance - Museums Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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This is a science, art, culture, history and diversity all in one museum embodying Alaskan themes. Well geared to a tourist. You could spend all day or finish quickly in just 90min. But spending 3hrs would be optimal for a tourist like just to get a taste of everything Alaskan. I got free admission because they were celebrating indigenous day, otherwise it was $20 per person. I won't go into too many details about the exhibits itself and let the pictures I'm attaching do the talking. I loved that many science exhibits were in a game format to keep kids engaged. The only downside is that none of the drinking water facilities (fountains and bottle filling stations) were working. read more

Anchorage Museum - Museums Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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What a wonderful museum! Some people think museums are boring...to bad for them! This museum is 4 floors and it was suggested go to the top floor and work you way down; good idea! Forth floor had these open boxes on two sides-bottom and where you walk in. Once in it it has sounds and music of Alaskans...very neat! The 3rd floor is all about women; mostly of Alaska but not all, and how women has been oppressed and under appreciated. It is a traveling exhibit so it won't be here for ever! Second floor was about the history of the dozens of native tribes around Alaska. The 1st floor was more of the traditional art of Alaska in painting and photos. One room was all about women hunters here! Great museum! read more

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We loved this place. There is a section for everyone. The children's area clean, modern and huge! The staff were friendly, laid back and kind to all children. The classic art is fun, definitely a must see in Alaska! read more

Displays of the Native/ first people of Alaska were amazing. Too bad all of the displays were very poorly lit. Some exhibits weren't even turned on. Half the museum was closed off. I'm wondering why I paid full price to see half the museum. Ladies at the front were sweet and very informative. The discovery center for children is really lacking. This beautiful museum needs some attention. Lots of families with children in the museum but many of the interactive exhibits were turned off or did not work properly. I would love to see this museum taken care of! Alaska is rich in history and natural beauty. It's museum should reflect that. read more

Anchorage Museum - These exhibits would be great if the lights were turned on! - Museums Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Love the museum! We had three kids with us aged 5, 3 and 18 months. They had a BLAST in the discovery area. They have included hands on exhibits with topics like earthquakes, volcanoes, topography, bubbles and a touch thank. The big hit was the kitchen area at the back. The kids played back there happily for a couple of hours. Honestly, the kids liked the exhibits but all of the adults had a blast too! It is obvious the designers know what kids like and how to keep them entertained. We also saw the traditional art exhibits and I particularly liked the one called The Place I Call Home by Jovell Rennie. I grew up coming to this museum and am happy to share it with my daughter now. read more

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The Anchorage Museum is a cultural institution in downtown Anchorage, featuring exhibits on Alaskan history, art, science, and indigenous cultures. The museum is aimed at a broad audience, including tourists, students, and locals interested in learning about Alaska's culture, history, and natural environment. Its exhibits are suitable for all ages, but may be particularly useful for those with a general interest in science, history, and art. It is a museum building with various galleries, including science, history, art, and a planetarium. The mission of the Anchorage Museum is to "inspire curiosity about Alaska's past, present, and future." While the museum provides a good general overview of Alaska's heritage and environment, its exhibits can feel surface-level, and some visitors may find them less engaging if they are looking for deeper content or specialized experiences. Despite this, it successfully educates and informs visitors about the state's broad cultural and natural history. The museum's layout is clear and easy to navigate, though it lacks interactivity compared to other institutions. Every time I have been I opted for a self guided tour. The museum provides a general overview of Alaska but I think it lacks depth and interactivity for visitors seeking more specialized experiences. I do, however, enjoy the rotation of exabits as I feel provides an appropriate circulation of art, history, and culture. read more

Stayed a few extra days in Anchorage during our July 2018 Collette 2 week tour of Alaska and Yukon, and visited this place, largest museum in Alaska. A very large museum with at least four different sections: historical section, modern arts section, dinosaur section, and children's section. Needless to say we skipped the children's section, as we come on vacation to avoid other people's children. The historical section was the most memorable with large displays of both pictures of early Alaska in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the whaling boats, the gold rush steamers, and the early explorers. Lots of exhibits of the indigenous population's clothing and culture. The modern arts section that I remember most is the exhibit of paintings of the nuclear holocaust, along with the dozens of World War 2 submarines models. The dinosaur exhibit had a tyranosaurus head busting through the wall. This was toward the end of the day, and we needed no more pushing to head on home within walking distance of our hotel. Wife would not turn 65 until three weeks later. She's exceptionally honest, and would have paid the full $18 adult admission, except that I steered her away from the admission booth, and paid for the two senior (65+) tickets at $12 apiece. Another case of how opposites attract. read more

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What are delightful afternoon! Great place for kids and family, and the planetarium never disappoints. If you can't see Northern lights anywhere else, you can definitely see them here in a great movie. read more

On the first Friday is each month, admission fees are waived & these folks throw a party! Live music, cultural foods coinciding next to exhibitions on that culture & lots of great exhibits! It's very Alaska-centric ( duh, see the name) but the exhibits were well done and told a rich story about our 49th state. It's a beautiful building, has well-tended & interesting grounds & does its patrons proud. I was awed by how many kids who were there enjoying all the special events the museum was providing just for them. This museum is doing a GREAT job and is well worth a few hours of your time & attention! read more

My FAV thing to do in each city I visit is explore museums. So, this was the first site I visited as I explored Anchorage. All the traditions indigenous to Alaska was a welcome educational experience. How could anyone not the love learning about the cornucopia of culture, traditions, faith, etc. of all cultures. The museum provided diverse, beautiful, & cultural information as well as contributions by the multitude of native tribes, Eskimos, western settlers, African American, art, sculptures clothing, hunting, science and more. Also, there was a section that depicted the contemptible & unforgivable plebeian atrocities that were imposed by the patricians on the native people & culture. I could have stayed for hours and hours reading, staring and thinking about each ocular, and sensory auditory delights. If visiting Anchorage, I highly recommend visiting the museum to learn more about history not shared in educational systems. read more

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Truly contains a category for everyone! The museum is large, but well organized into the East and West wing. From art to science, history, Alaska culture and even music, we enjoyed it all. They do have interactive areas for curious kids focused on science and local geography, and even an area about music. We spent just over a couple of hours in the museum, and this activity could have gone all-day if we didn't have other places to go. At $20/person (deals throughout the year, and for kids/seniors/military/etc.) it's an affordable place to visit. read more

I love this museum. Love! So well put together and the interactive kids part is fun for adults too. Gorgeous photos and art in every room. Sculptures in the outside garden by indigenous artists are beautiful. The part of the museum, maybe the third floor, was beautiful and had descriptions of the different cultures and tribes that share the beautiful state. I usually have so much to say but all I can say about this museum is that it's a must. I'll be visiting next June when I return. read more

Anchorage Museum - Museums Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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Cool museum with a range of exhibits. Everything from modern art to native clothing. Lots to see and lots to learn. Some permanent and some rotating collections. Perfect for a long rainy day. read more

Awesome museum- a must visit when in Anchorage! Exhibits were fascinating and there's was an Alaskan native exhibit on loan from the Smithsonian. That was the best! We spent at least a hour in that wing alone. Not only that, there was a cool exhibit of lit globes depicting world info. It's a wonderful experience where you can totally spend half a day there. There's a cafe to get food to replenish your energy to continue exploring. For us it was 3 hours of pure wonderment! read more

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