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!

The downtown area is walkable, with plenty of shops, eateries, and a public library. Spend a…read morepleasant afternoon in the comfort of laid-back Juneau.

Juneau is the state Capital and the only way to get here is by boat or plane. That is why it is a…read moremust stop destination for every cruise ship coming to Alaska. Thankfully, the cruise ships dock close to the historic downtown. You can literally walk off the ship and right into the action. The day we arrived it was pouring down rain. Since we did not have any excursions planned here, we decided to stay on the ship. Sadly, this is the only port we missed because of weather.

It's an official government service for the public use to send or receive mail. Post office box…read morerentals for those not wishing to disclose their physical address pay for the privilege of up to a year in advance as the fees keeps going up. New U.S. Passport applications may also be processed here along with a passport photo.

This memorial for Colonel Archie Van Winkle is near the visitor center in Juneau. Due to the…read moreliberties and freedoms we have in the US, I believe it's important that we recognize and honor those who have served and protected us. The memorial is beautiful with flowers surrounding it and is well preserved.

Juneau - an animal house kind of town. I talked to people from the west side of Chicago that say…read morewalking around in Chicago makes them feel safer than walking around downtown Juneau at night (which is like 6 months out of the year). Lots of rain, privileged people, shipping takes twice as long (if the grocery barges don't come in - ooh forget it), and beyond terrible drivers. Surprisingly, the restaurants are pretty good and there's always fresh seafood and good fishing. (Prices are $$, so be prepared to pay $6 for two apples or $7 for a five dollar footlong). In the winter? Good luck finding something to do (that's how I started writing reviews anyways, for those that were curious. Do the touristy things). The glacier is great. Pretty unique things- northern lights, reindeer corn dogs, ice caves. I encourage everyone that thinks Alaska is great to spend during the summertime to spend a week during the winter when half of the touristy shops and restaurants are closed (I actually don't mind the tourists, it adds a whole new perspective). You'll hate it when you get there, but you won't be ready to leave. And, you can't beat when the sun actually does come out (the rumor that sunglasses are illegal is not true). I just wish I had gotten the chance to ride in a helicopter that takes you to the top of the glacier to dog sled...

The quaint part is quite close to the ports where the cruise ships dock. As expected, very…read moretouristy, but makes for a fun day if you are into shopping. The Mendenhall Glacier (magnificent) is really close and viewable from a visitors center and you can see salmon in the river at a little view point close by the glacier. Those are things you should not miss. If you feel brave and want to save money, you can do all this without a tour guide.

I was in and out in minutes. Great service. I was treated respectfully. Staff was friendly.read more

No line was good. Customer service left a lot to be desired. My husband thinks I should've gone to…read morethe actual DMV but I've never gone to either place so not sure what the difference would have been. Maybe, I would've received an actual ID on the spot rather than receiving a print out and having to wait to get the card in the mail (regular id not REAL id). I don't know. Overall the experience was good enough.

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.

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.