Editor Pick
Alaska Native Heritage Museum
- July 2, 2006
- Rated 4 of 5 by
bathtubjake from chicago, Illinois
We purchases a combination ticket with the Museum of Art and History which essentially allowed free entry to one of the museums. It also provided a free shuttle out to the Alaska Native Heritage Museum which was located beyond walking distance outside of town. Everyone we met who worked at the facility was of native heritage and more than happy to share their own experiences, starting with our shuttle driver. The trip between museums runs once an hour and took about 15 minutes.
At the musuem, we spent most of our time outdoors. There is a central lagoon, and a walking path around it. Each area around the lagoon features traditional buildings from a different native culture. Many of the buildings were open to visitors. Each grouping featured a native guide who would describe the area and answer any questions. We spent a little over an hour walking around the lagoon.
Back indoors, there were two smaller galleries that resemebled more traditional museums with artifacts and descriptions. Also, there were several native artisans creating crafts for display and sale. In the central performance area, a group of high school aged dancers were both performing and teaching native dances. My one concern was waiting for the shuttle back to Anchorage.
Late in the afternoon, there were more people than could fit on one shuttle, and some tourists's tempers were short when they were told they had to continue to wait. I would suggest that the afternoons should have twice as many shuttles available. The bonus was that once we were on the return shuttle, we could be dropped anywhere downtown, including our hotel.
From journal Anchorage: Gateway to Alaska