I have been to SO many museums, and this one absolutely stands out in my mind. There were so many varied feelings as I went through. The Alaskan Art exhibits are stunning - due to the art AND the atmosphere. The hands-on area has some amazingly fun experiments that I hadn't seen before (more than your standard tube tornado and a thermal camera!). The touch pool of sea life even had a younger kid (12 maybe?) helping as a volunteer and he was SO knowledgeable - totally blew me away. The Native Cultures exhibit and the WWII exhibits both almost brought me to tears and were so fascinating. And the history of mining and oil ... well, given the nature of recent events it was nice to learn more about the history of the industry and try to get a feel for how such an industry affects its surrounding people and landscape. Alaska is so gorgeous, and its history can make you uncomfortable and protective of the land and indigenous cultures. At least that's how the museum made me feel - which is quite a feat for a museum. read more

Beautiful for adults wonderful for children. So many exhibits that bring children into the experience. Science is wonderful here. Moon rocks, things that move and change. THis is a must. You could spend hours here. read more

When I visit this museum, I gravitate towards the historical areas. The native Alaskan displays are extremely informative and gives me some understanding of the culture all around me. Next, I like to visit the themed areas that cover the rest of Alaska's history like the gold rush, oil exploration, earthquake, etc. They do a good job of covering these periods in our state. I don't go for the art areas; that's just not my thing. I visited another museum in New York recently that had an app to find your way around. I hope someday that this museum follows suit with that technology. read more

Neato! I was a student intern here in high school and can give you a perfect art museum curator's explanation for the galleries upstairs. First of all, upstairs is all about Alaskan people and history and you'll get well acquainted with the type of clothing Native Americans wore, the type of animals they hunted, and the tools they used. (This is where I take out the real animal fur and bone tools for you to touch). Over here are models of Alaskans hunting whale for food. And over here are the clothing they wore, yes, they are really made out of seal guts. To your right is the wall that explains the great earthquake of 1964. When I interned there, they had an awesome kid's art section where kids could touch/play/create with the materials they had laid out there. It was perfect for kids to exercise their creativity. But that was many years ago, so I don't know what they have now, but I'm sure it's something cool! read more

Exploring Anchorage lead my friends and I to check this place out. It was great that you can get a student or military discount so admission was around $10 or so. The lady who sold us our tickets suggested we start from the top (4th floor) and work our way down. We took this giant elevator to the top. 4th floor: Small exhibit that featured a lot of mixed media that reminded me of things you'd get at Pier 1 Imports to decorate your house. Clearly, I'm not that artsy. 3rd floor: Tribal history and artifacts. Very cool and interesting as each piece is showcased beautifully with an explanation with how it was made and used. There's also plenty of videos to immerse yourself in culture. 2nd floor: I believe this was temporary exhibit around the concept of gyres (currents in the ocean). A lot of information on just how humans pollute the world. Lots of things showcased, such as trash that was pinned as a collection to be deemed art. I guess this is one way to hoard such things? Still, the whole exhibit is thought provoking. 1st floor. My inner nerdy kid geeked out as soon as I saw the discovery section. My friends and I were playing along with the kids to make huge bubbles that we could trap ourselves in. Eventually, I stepped away when I realized I was spending too much time having fun. Next, there were things you can experiment with like making a mini northern lights, flying a hot air balloon, etc. There's also some animals you can see like a snapping turtle, alligators, starfish, etc. We saved the best for last by hitting up the most interactive thing to do at the end! read more

My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Anchorage Museum yesterday. While I liked the Alaska Exhibition Gallery and the new exhibit, Death in the Ice: The Mystery of the Franklin Expedition, my favorite exhibit was The Culture of Media: Representation from Nanook to Molly. I was heartened to learn about Molly of Denali, an upcoming PBS Kids and CBC Television cartoon about "an Alaska Native girl, her dog Suki, and friends Tooey and Trini on their adventures in epically beautiful Alaska." The museum store has a range of gifts and the Muse Restaurant serves imaginative cuisine by James Beard-nominated chef, Laura Cole. read more

I had no expectation of this museum as it was my first day in Anchorage and I left all expectations at home. My best friend lives in Alaska and I finally made my way to visit. When I arrived there was a crazy storm and our hope of our outdoor plans went away that day. The Anchorage Museum provided an excellent place to start my trip as well as somewhere to take refuge from the 90MPH winds. There were exhibits showcasing different areas and villages of Alaska which was fascinating. I believe this museum appeals to people of all ages as it has fun activities with science related themes to cater to children. Some of these were more applicable to Alaska than others. I would not recommend the planetarium though unless it is a special showing. read more

We really enjoyed the Alaska Native exhibits and histories on display. The exhibits were so informative and educational especially for tourists from other states like us. The cost were so cheap, $15 per adult, $7 for kid, $10 for senior, and $10 for students with ID. read more

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Wonderful museum! The exhibits were varied with history, art and culture. I found the Flyboys exhibit fascinating. We thought we'd walk through it in an hour or two and then get an early dinner, but at closing time we were still poring over the exhibits. Ok, actually when we knew closing time was imminent, we dashed over to the Imaginarium to play with the gadgets. There is a combo ticket with the Alaska Native Heritage Museum that makes the price reasonable. read more

Came here with my dad and brother to kill some time after our cruise and it was a much nicer museum than i expected! Tickets: Adults- $15 Student Discount Ticket- $10 They tell you to start at the 4th floor and work your way down. This museum features artifacts and information of everything from Native American life, early aviation into Alaska, explanation of Oil and gold history, and even Modern Day Alaskan life. There is also a Smithsonian exhibit with display cases of Native American artifacts. I would recommend checking this out although the people who work there are not very knowledgeable about basic information describing the displayed artifacts. read more

I love museums and the Anchorage Museum did not disappoint. Loved all the exhibits, the videos and all the info they had about Alaska and it's natives. I wish they had more :) read more

Wanted to stop by and check out the Alaska bush pilot exhibit, but was hugely disappointed that after I purchased my ticket I was told it (along with the while third floor) was closed for a new exhibit. Seemed a but unfair that they still charged full price when 25% of the museum was closed off. The Alaska History Gallery did have many interesting artifacts and displays, but even for my young eyes the lighting was poor and the display cards were dated, small print and difficult to read. Many of the display cards were so low you had to almost sit on the floor to read them. They could definitely use some updates in that wing. There was another exhibit (name escapes me) on the second floor that was very well done in terms of lighting, display cases, audio/visual enhancements. 5 stars for that Alaskan history exhibit. May have given 4 stars if the third floor was open. read more

We had such high hopes to view the Van Gogh alive exhibit at the museum, but it was a total waste of money, no original artwork from the artist and appears only to be a marketing ploy for you to visit the gift shop and buy a doll, which is made in China,whose ear comes off....yay! I am so disappointed! read more

Anchorage Museum - Museums Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

By far one of the best museums I have been to. The dinosaur part was a bit cheesy with the drawings, but the fossils were really cool. The best part was the "discovery center." It had lots of hands on exhibits for all ages. The 19 year old kid and 50 year old dad had a blast playing with bubbles and convection currents. There is also a really interesting exhibit on Alaskan history, as well as other art and history exhibits. This museum is a great place to learn for a few hours. read more

Anchorage Museum - Museums Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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Very enlightening. I came to Anchorage not knowing much about the city or the natives that inhabited the city prior to colonization. The museum does a great job telling their stories and identifying the unique cultures of the multiple tribes in the Alaska area. The facilty was clean, the storyline well thought out and well put together. One of my favorite displays was of the winter attire. I was amazed by how much detail was put into the snow boots and jackets. The handmade attire needed to survive in Alaska's harsh winters were innovative and very fashionable. The fashion/art shows the heart of the people. The children's section on the very first floor was also a lot of fun. We had a chance to okay with some of the experiments set up. I am glad to have had the opportunity to visit this glorious museum. read more

I've been going to this museuem all my life. It is always wonderfully interesting and my grandchildren enjoy it too

Love this place!!! Such a good place to spend your saturday afternoon. Ticket was $15 which is pretty reasonable as the museum is quite big. I loved the Smithsonian Native Culture exhibit where You can find the natives and their lifestlye, livelihood, etc. read more

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I love their permanent collection and recommend it to everyone who comes to town from out of state. Amazing native art, etc.

The building is modern and sleek. There is a lot of nature paintings of Alaska which are really nice. Some are quite large and impressive. I also really liked the "I AM INUIT" exhibit up on the second floor. It was probably the most unique or "Alaskan" part of the museum. read more

Great way to spend a few hours in the city. I spent about 2 hrs here when it was raining and it was great to learn about different cultures that exist in Alaska. They also have a fun area for kids to keep them entertained. read more

An amazing place. I attended a dinner and reception for a Conference, WACUBO, on Sunday, June 2. The food was awesome, and the venue was beautiful, the staff very friendly happily directing us to exhibits, answering questions, etc. I loved the Flight Exhibit. When in Achorage, a must see! read more

I'm so glad to see the museum is open again! Unfortunately I wasn't impressed with some of the temporary exhibits they have going on. And the gift shop lady was extremely rude. We popped in right before closing, the second we walked in she went "we just closed. You can't buy anything. Have a good night." No times on when they'd be open, no trying to help. We told her we didn't plan to buy anything, we still had a couple minutes according to the announcements, so we were just going to glance real quick and leave. She scoffed then went to the back and shut the lights off. While she was doing that another girl came by that was so sweet and friendly, she told us they were closing in five minutes and the register was closed early but she can help us find anything we need and what the hours were the next day so we could come back for it. read more

Very impressed with this amazing modern museum. Native Alaskan exhibit from the Smithsonian was very impressive to say the least. We suggest a guided tour as the detail of information was a very informative. read more

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Between the ever present Aleutian history of Alaska and my ignorance of any art scene I was not expecting much when I decided to kill a couple of rainy hours in town with a visit to the museum. Boy was I wrong. From the moment you approach the Anchorage Museum you realize there's something different about this place. A glass and steel monolith surrounded by stone and landscaped public space the building stands out from its surroundings. Inside it is a contemporary combination of wood and stone with small gallery spaces surrounding a central great hall. The exhibits were all excellent and of an international calibre. The Smithsonian Arctic research wing was very educational. The Alaskan history was much more fascinating than I thought it would have been and not filled with the typical native American stuffed animal dioramas. The great hall has rotating exhibits and while I was there it had a captivating display of photography by legendary mountaineer Brad Washburn. There is even something for the kids with an interactive science area usually only found in children's or science museums. The Cafe near the exit is not to be missed. A sheik Euro styled space with a great menu but even better drink list featuring homemade infused vodka's. read more

Intriguing storytelling of Alaska culture and history, science sections for kids of all ages to play around... We also ran into Lego art special exhibition, bricks of imaginations! This place is conveniently located in downtown, very easy to navigate. It should be on the to-go list, for adults and kids alike! read more

Anchorage Museum - special exhibits--- lego arts - Museums Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Note: This is a review of the cinema side of the Anchorage Museum only. http://www.anchoragemuseum.org/calendar/GroupDetails.aspx?ID=2 The Anchorage Museum shows just one film a week, Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m., on a screen in an auditorium, usually a couple of years after release. Not normally five-star cinema, but these foreign and independent films are extremely well-chosen. The foreign fare often hasn't opened in any US theatre but only because of language and marketing -- this series is by no means of the high-falutin', shoulder-stabbing, eye-slicing wtf variety. Regardless of where you're coming from and especially for a city with sometimes limited selection, this is always a good place to go. Tickets are $6 general, $5 seniors, $4 members. Street parking is easy at this time. None of the cineplex previews, ads, talking paper bags, b.s., so be on time. read more

I loved it! If you are in Anchorage, if you have some free time. This is a place for both kids and Adult. Awesome arts, culture and kids play and learn area. Glad we got to visit during our layover. read more

The Anchorage Museum has been beautifully redone. They had a special exhibition about the impact of plastic pollution on the ocean and it was really well done. There was a great mix of art and science that appealed to a range of ages. The displays were beautiful, even if you didn't bother to read the text or watch any of the videos. They also have a great collection of artifacts and information about the native inhabitants of Alaska. It was also really well done - inciting the curiosity of visitors while being respectful of the cultures it represented. They have neat displays about the history of Alaska and a mini science center. That section of the museum is older and a little dated, but it's held up pretty well and there were lots of kids (and adults) who were clearly having a great time. They've really crammed a lot of stuff into a relatively small museum. I figured it'd be a good way to kill an hour, but it's really worth an afternoon at least. We didn't get a chance to eat at the restaurant, but the decor alone would have made it worth it. read more

A rainy day in Anchorage, perfect. Loved hearing all about the Alaskan history. So well done.

Highly recommenced. Extremely informative. Riveting displays. Amazing artifacts. Went with a born & breed Alaskan, and I was uncomfortable thinking he would be bored out of his mind, but he was drawn to all the exhibits and even learned a lot about his own state. We found the 2nd floor on Natives to have put us in an awestruck state of mind. The ancient clothing, way of life, and culture of the Eskimos was just so educational. You are able to be transported back in time, and into a life that you never knew existed. The only down side was that I ran out of time and was really disappointed I was not able to slip into the adjoining Muse. I had heard they have an awesome martini & wine bar - Whaaah. A quick peak in and it looked really cool. sigh. next time! read more

History Fun Knowledge! This place has exhibits showcasing different areas and villages of Alaska which was fascinating from early ice age to present. This museum appeals to people of all ages as it has fun activities with science related themes to cater to children. Some of these were more applicable to Alaska than others. I loved the bubble machine and saw a class visit get excited over all the experiments. read more

Wow! This museum is truly a hidden gem! An array of art and items of the Alaskan native populations. Plus the planetarium! The western art focuses on Alaska with magnificent landscape paintings in addition to paintings and sculptures of the wildlife. Truly glad we arrived a day early for our tour and found this museum For your not-to-be missed list I hope museum management will do more to get the word out to the tourist population. read more

We saw the exhibit on Eskimo and Native Americans and it was amazing! The displays featured artifacts from each culture and signs that described each object. There were also interactive touch screen stations that went into greater detail for some of the objects, sometimes including a video interview with a native person about that object. I sat and watched some of the short films that detailed some of the cultures and cultural aspects (e.g. Shamans, hunting, etc.). They were well done and interesting to watch. Afterwards we went through the historical exhibit that summarized the history of humans and cultures of Alaska. It also featured life sized replicas of animals, boats, houses, and smaller dioramas that detailed what a village might look like. We spent a lot of time here and I could have spent more. We did not have time to check out any of the other exhibits, but you could easily spend half a day to a day here. Would highly recommend. read more

For Anchorage's size and remote location, this is actually a pretty good museum. Since the new addition has been added, they have brought some decent exhibits: Science of Star Wars, Gold, Mammoths and Mastodons. The new imaginarium is quite fun, even for adults. The paintings in the old section haven't changed much but I are still arresting. The new cafe is fairly decent with outdoor seating and a nice menu. I wish there was a way to buy a pass for the museum and the traveling exhibits for the whole year, not just the museum. read more

We were going to skip this museum, but had some extra time on the day of our departure so decided to pop in. We're glad we did. We had been to the Heritage Center and thought there would be a lot of overlap. We were wrong. While the Heritage Center was great it was not a museum. Obviously the Alaska Museum is! It offers many great displays showing artifacts of Native life, videos on medium-sized screens of Native Alaskans sharing pieces of history as well as interactive options. We only had an hour so felt time crunched once we realized how much there was. Probably could have used another hour, but got a lot from the rime we had. read more

On our family's recent trip to Anchorage, Alaska we visited the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center! The kids loved the opportunity to learn about Alaska - from displays with the culture, life styles, people, and history of Alaska. The kids loved exploring the neat science and technology exhibits as well as watching the animal presentation! They had really cool boulder chairs and places for parents or grandparents to sit and relax in the common area which seemed popular for the adults! The kids loved it and it was entertaining for us as parents too. If you have some extra time while in Anchorage and you're traveling with your family you should check it out. If you want you can use a free locker to put your travel items in while going through the museum. Also, it is part of the Science Center Association so if you are a member of your local Science Center check to see if they are part of the Association and you will get into this museum for free! :) http://www.blessingsmultiplied.com/2016/09/travel-vacation-anchorage-museum-rasmuson-center-anchorage-alaska/ read more

This museum is very artsy. There are two floors dedicated to different artists and how the interpret the native of Alaska and where the future of Alaska is going. The discovery area in the first floor is very cool even for adults. There will be several kids running around though. The second floor is definitely the best with all the native artifacts on display. I didn't go on a tour but one was going on while I was there and they throw in several interesting facts that you wouldn't get just reading the displays. read more

The Anchorage Museum has a terrific blend of education and entertainment. You can easily spend hours here and still not see it all. My kids & I spent hours at the Imaginarium Discovery Center (inside the museum) when they were young, and it continues to be a fun place to re-visit and share with others family's who have young children. The museums has a number of spectacular exhibits dedicated to sharing the various Alaska Native cultures and the variety of traveling exhibits keep visits fresh and exciting. The museum offers much more than exhibits, too-- there is also a Planetarium, an ongoing series of plays and live performances, and classes and workshops. Residents should consider investing in a family membership (and it makes a terrific gift, too!) Also, don't shortchange yourself - be sure to visit the gift shop, which has many lovely gifts (for yourself or others). You'll also find a restaurant called Muse inside the museum and while it had some lovely evening events (piano, etc.), I find it to be overly pricey with mediocre/average food. All in all, it the Museum is a great way to spend an afternoon or day. read more

Great place to visit if you liked to see history!!! Loved every floor !! My daughters were enjoying every minute of it. They also have activities for children. So much to see read more

Obligatory Museum to visit when coming to Anchorage. This place is filled with culture and history of the city. A lot of displays that show the growth of the family home and development over time. I love the mini huts and homes with the mannequins and showing how they lived in the past. These always look fun. The Smithsonian exhibit is amazing as well. The setting, lighting, and display cases are beautiful. It is so rich in culture that I was sucked into the art. There is a Discovery Area for the kids as well with lots of interactive displays and fun things to try out. The special exhibit at the time of my visit was Cabin Fever and a strange sound exhibit. A bit too abstract for me. The painting are nice though. The price is fair here, my only wish is that it was much larger. It can be completed fairly quickly if you do not read or soak it all into your brain. Parking is dumb because the actual museum parking is closed until the museum closes, so we had to pay $8 across the street. Look for street parking and stay warm. read more

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