Alaska’s museums celebrate the Alaskan way of life, telling the story of the people who forged the wild land long before it became civilized. Here are the best museums in Alaska to teach the kids a thing or two.
The Anchorage Museum
Take the kids on a stroll through Alaska’s art, history and science at the Anchorage Museum. See touring exhibits like the display of human anatomy Body Worlds, or take a spin by the planetarium, where the kids can learn about the night sky and what lies beyond our small Earth.
Where: Anchorage
Cost: $7 for children, $12 for adults
Website:anchoragemuseum.org
Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum
What child isn’t obsessed with planes? Take the kids to the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum for a peek at Alaska’s famed flyers, including a hall of fame, two theaters, artifacts, restoration hangars, flight simulators and more. Let the kids explore the journey of how humans learned to fly and how big an impact the aviation industry has on the wild landscape of Alaska.
Where: Anchorage
Cost: $6 for children, $10 for adults
Website: alaskaairmuseum.org
Alaska State Museum
Learn about the indigenous people of Alaska, along with the immigrants who turned the massive state into the chilly tourist paradise it is today. Explore the state’s Russian past, examine shipwreck artifacts, learn about the Eskimos and their way of life and more. If you want to learn anything about Alaska, this is the place to start.
Where: Juneau
Cost: Free for children under 18, $3 for adults in winter, $7 in summer
Website: museums.state.ak.us
Alaska SeaLife Center
Alaska’s rich wildlife extends from the forests and into the ocean, where whales, sea otters, sea lions and more all make a regular appearance. Alaskan oceanic scientists make it their mission to protect the state’s sea life at the Alaska SeaLife Center, where you can learn about conservation efforts, meet an octopus, puffin and other adorable creatures and visit the expansive aquarium.
Where: Seward
Cost: $10 for children, $20 for adults
Website: alaskasealife.org
Alaska Museum of Natural History
Absorb what Alaska has to offer through its geological, cultural and ecological history. Exhibits include real dinosaur bones and a look back at the ice age when woolly mammoths roamed the land. The museum regularly hosts science education classes for children and adults looking to get the answers to Alaska’s most prominent questions.
Where: Anchorage
Cost: $3 for children, $5 for adults
Website: alaskamuseum.org
Ice Museum
Alaska’s glaciers and ice tell a story. At the ice museum, you can get up-close-and-personal with life-sized ice sculptures formed by local artists, even during the summer when the ice is melting outside. Experience a full multimedia show about the ice of Alaska and see ice sculpting performed in real time.
Where: Fairbanks
Cost: $6 for children, $12 for adults
Website: icemuseum.com
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