Nice little library in the downtown area of Juneau. There is free wifi which is great if you do not…read morehave data. There is a section for kids and it's cordoned off. Adults can only enter if they are bringing children to the area. That's really good for safety measures and peace of mind for other parents or guardians. There are tables and chairs lining the windows which offer a view of the mountains and downtown. There's also an "Internet cafe" which is a room where you can make calls or talk in it. It was pretty quiet when we were there so I'm not sure if anyone would actually want strangers to overhear your private conversations in there. Washroom is also clean here.

The Juneau Public Libraries are a department of the City and Borough of Juneau. The Juneau Public…read moreLibraries have three branches: the downtown Juneau Public Library (located atop the Marine Parking Garage on the waterfront), the Mendenhall Valley Public Library (located in Dimond Park) and the Douglas Public Library (located in the Douglas Community Building, a shared facility with the Fire Department). Library staff offices are located at the downtown branch. The Juneau Public Libraries are members of the Alaska Library Catalog, a consortium of 87 public, academic, special, and school libraries that serves 92% of the population of Alaska and shares 3.2 million library materials.  A card obtained at any of these facilities will allow you to check out materials at all facilities.  Several, such as the Sealaska Heritage Institute and Alaska State Historical Collections, are non-circulating research libraries.

The Mendenhall branch is the crown jewel of it's three branches overtaking their downtown location…read moreof the Juneau Public Library. It's architecture by North Wind Architects is impressive set against a beautiful mountain backdrop, next to Thunder Mountain High School, giving it's students access to the library very close by.

I love reading so I stopped in at the library while in town on a cruise. They have a great…read moreselection of books both new and older. Wi-Fi is free, one hour duration. There are several computers available for use if you don't have one. There's a nice children's section. They also have a table in the lobby/foyer with used books and other items you can purchase to support the library. Books are only $0.50. Librarian was nice, friendly, and helpful. The bus stops in front of the library. Very smart planning by the city. So if you don't have a car you can take it here.

An excellent museum, particularly impressive collection of native Alaskan art and artifacts.read more

Is your cruise ship docked in Juneau and it's a gray, cold, rainy day (very possible!)? A trip to…read morethe Alaska State Museum is a great way to spend some time and get out of the elements! That's the exact weather we were faced with and we found the museum about a 15 minute walk from the port. This was the largest museum we encountered on our Alaska cruise and one of the best. Lovely displays of native art and key moments of Alaska history. Nice lockers for all your cold weather/rain gear as well! Definitely worth a visit.

June, 2025. Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. *Quick. How long does it take to drive from Anchorage…read moreto the Capitol in Juneau? That was actually a trick question. The Capitol city can only be reached by plane or sea (cruise ship, ferry). *How tall is the Capitol dome? That was another trick question. Completed in 1931, the Capitol was originally constructed as a territorial and federal building. Upon becoming the 49th state in 1959, building ownership was transferred to Alaska to serve as the state Capitol. It currently houses the state legislature as well as offices of the governor and lieutenant governor. Due to its original purpose, the building lacks the traditional dome of most other state capitols. Juneau was a port stop on our recent Alaska cruise. My husband and I walked (uphill ) from the cruise terminal to visit the state Capitol building. (Note that there are no public parking lots in the area, and street parking is very limited). In addition to admiring its original (restored) 1931 art deco design, visitors can venture inside to explore historic displays, artworks, photographs, and cultural artifacts celebrating Alaska's rich heritage. Entry to the Capitol was easy, and admission was free. After being screened by security, we were given a Visitor's Guide, with the recommendation to start our self-guided tour on the top (5th) floor. Points of interest there are both the Senate Finance Committee and the House Finance Cmte rooms, as well as historical photographs showcasing the state's judicial divisions. The fourth floor houses Lawmaker's offices. The hallways are lined with historical newspapers highlighting important historic events in Alaska. The 3rd floor houses the offices of the governor and lt. governor. Of note on this floor is a unique map of Alaska crafted from a section of the 48" pipe used to construct the Trans--Alaska pipeline. The Hall of Governor's honors past leadership. The second floor is the central location for legislative activity. There are also artistic tributes that honor Alaska's history and leaders. The first floor accommodates the offices of the Senate President and the Senate Rules Chair. Finally, the ground floor is the unassuming entrance to the Capitol. See a replica of the Liberty Bell, stone-fired murals, ceiling accents, and a bust of Elizabeth Peratrovich, a champion for civil rights. Note that the legislature was not in session on the day that we visited so we had access to all of the committee rooms and non-private spaces. We were pretty much left alone to wander to enjoy the building and its historic and cultural contents. The building is air-conditioned and has plentiful restrooms.

We got off the beaten path when in port in Juneau to see the Alaska State Capitol building. They…read morefree offered tours on the hour you could register for or you could go on a self guided walk around on your own time. With our limited time in port, we opted for the self-guided. They had a cool movie room with the history of the state. They allowed you to view the house and Senate meeting rooms, as well as walk the halls with some interesting memorbilia and artifacts from the state. We saw the governor's office and some other interesting department offices. The marble bathrooms were also open to visitors and very nice and clean. A really interesting free stop if you're in port!

Tons of books for cheap. If you're looking for a particular book, you might not find it. But if you…read morelike perusing there's plenty to be done!

Best used bookstore I have been to!! They have such affordable prices!!! It is so easy to find what…read moreyou are looking for!! Will 100% go again!!

State Office Building is a large office building for some of its state workers, Juneau's largest…read moreemployer. There's a nice observation on their 8th floor opened to the public. Occasionally there's some music entertainment on Fridays at noon. A state library is located here. Concession stands have food and drinks for purchase on the 8th floor.

I went to jyc as an adult with a one year sentence, during my stay i was top three best behaved…read moreresidents but i was treated like garbage, i did evertything they asked but when i wanted to learn or explore future ideas they cut me off or waisted my time till it was to late. My whole stay i was the cleaning ladie basically and im a dude. Most of the staff or rude and power control assholes, now there are staff there that i appretiate who knew my pain and thought wrong of it as well, thank those who helped me, but to the rest of the staff who lied, pushed me off, swore at me, and just was a straight poop dick the hole time just know fuck you. I waisted a year that i could have gotten better but all it did was create more problems when i got out, i been struggling ever since and my self asteem is so low since all i know is to be used and it being ok, plus the bathrooms smell like butt cheese and id rather eat garbage off the streets in india than eat the trash they served us, johnson youth center can clean my ass with there tounge they have 0 respect from me and never will, besides a few collected people.

My Dad and I were on the hunt for a pair of XtraTufs and stopped at the sporting goods store in…read moreNugget Mall. While we were there, Heartside Books & Toys caught my eye because I can't pass up a bookstore. They had a great selection of books ranging from books about Alaska to cookbooks and of course a vast selection of fiction books. One thing they do not have is a section for large print books (my dad asked...). They have some items that would make for a good gift as well. Although this location is tucked away in the mall, be sure to stop by if you're in the area or have a desire to visit a true brick and motor bookstore... browsing bookshelves is one of my favorite things!

Nice selection of books, including Alaska history and kids books. Wandered in based on the window…read moredisplay and found several souvenirs and books for myself. Chatted with the owner behind the register. Great to see a brick and mortar bookstore doing well.