Chugach State Park

One of the top 5 attractions in Anchorage, the Alaska Aviation Museum is special. Each aircraft and artefact holds a fascinating, relevant, meaningful Alaska history back story. As a state with few transportation options over a vast territory, aviation developed a rich and textured legacy. The Alaska Aviation Museum is located on the world’s busiest seaplane base, Lake Hood, at Anchorage International Airport. Open daily 9 am-5 pm during the summer, it’s a substantial museum boasting 4 hangars of exhibits and vintage aircraft (over 25 vintage aircraft in flying condition on display). (Follow website or Facebook for winter hours.) Outdoor exhibits; Restoration hangar (watch volunteers at work restoring vintage aircraft); Control tower (watch seaplanes land and take off, including live real-time radio tower feed); Flight simulators, including full-immersion virtual reality; World-class gift store. Allow 1½ to 2 hours for a visit. https://www.anchorage.net/listings/alaska-aviation-museum/35730/

This Anchorage museum offers an in-depth look at Alaskan Native life—with a big focus on Alaska Natives. Watch dancing, listen to stories, meet carvers and explore recreated winter dwellings. The setting is so small and intimate that visitors are sometimes even invited to join the dancers on stage. You'll see how Alaska Native history is not a collection of artefacts behind glass: this is a living, dynamic culture that you can experience firsthand. Of course, you can also see plenty of crafts and handiwork: beautifully adorned moose hide boots, birch bark baskets, and tunics made from seal hide. Outside, you can check out the life-sized traditional native dwellings—like a Supiaq, a semi-subterranean home built by the Alutiiqs to shelter themselves from the harsh Alaskan climate. Or, enter a Southeast Alaska Longhouse—large wooden constructions with no windows and only a smoke hole at the top—that generally housed several families. Inside you will find four beautifully carved posts that each represent a different culture. Each post is carved and painted with a different theme of respect; respect for family, environment, culture, and self. Aside from the beauty of the ornate posts, it is very unique to be able to experience four cultures in one house. https://www.alaska.org/detail/alaska-native-heritage-center

At the 200-acre Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, jaws drop in awe-even those of longtime Alaskans who've studied grizzlies and other animals up close. AWCC's mission is to preserve Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, research, education and quality animal care. The center, which opened to the public in 1993, also educates visitors about Alaska's wildlife. Coyotes peer out from behind the brush while a bald eagle swoops in on the salmon remains left by a grizzly bear. Wood Bison plod through 65 acres of tidal flat terrain, as part of a program that will one day restore the species to the Alaskan wilderness. Animals that cannot be released into the wild are given a permanent home at the center. Come be a part of these exciting programs and watch these animals display their natural, “wild”, behaviour. Set on the shores of Turnagain Arm, surrounded by mountains and hanging glaciers, the center is the perfect setting to learn about Alaskan wildlife. The animals are located in different areas grouped around several road loops. Perhaps the best way to view the facility is to first drive around to get your bearings, then park by the gift shop and walk. Each habitat area has a sign explaining the history and habits of the particular animals. https://www.alaska.org/detail/alaska-wildlife-conservation-center

Nestled in the heart of Alaska, the Anchorage Museum offers an authentic glimpse into the story of the North. It's a narrative filled with unexpected twists and rich diversity, intertwining social, political, cultural, scientific, historic, and artistic elements. At this museum, you can fully appreciate the breadth of Alaska Native cultures, featuring exquisite pieces of art and design from the Smithsonian Institution's collections. The Art of the North galleries in the museum's new wing showcase a fascinating blend of American art and international Northern perspectives. Here, you'll find an array of paintings, sculptures, photography, video, and other media that capture the Northern landscape and wilderness from both historical and contemporary viewpoints. The new Alaska Exhibition gives voice to the state's story through a multitude of perspectives. It highlights the resilience, technology, and deep understanding of the land that have enabled people to thrive in this rugged environment. The exhibition is thoughtfully organized into 13 themes, each representing a fundamental aspect of life in Alaska, both today and throughout its storied past. These themes beautifully illustrate the identity of Alaska and its people. For those intrigued by science, the museum's 11,000-square-foot Discovery Center is a treasure trove of knowledge. Visitors of all ages can explore Alaska and the Arctic through engaging technology, interactive installations, captivating artwork, and marine-life tanks. This space is segmented into distinct areas, each offering a unique insight into the Northern environment. It's a place where curiosity meets education, leaving you with a deeper appreciation for the wonders of the North. Beyond the exhibits, the Anchorage Museum hosts a variety of events and programs that delve into the region's rich heritage. Whether you're attending a workshop, a lecture, or a film screening, there's always something to enrich your understanding of this incredible part of the world. Anchorage itself is a city that marries the vibrancy of urban life with the majesty of the natural world, making it a perfect gateway to explore the wonders of Alaska.

Sure, you can pan for gold at hundreds of places in Alaska, but very few of these spots let you really work a claim. But at Crow Creek Mine, less than an hour from Anchorage, you’ll learn how to work a pan, and then how to run a creek-side sluice box. That’s because Crow Creek is an operational mine run by a mining family. Search for gold all day, or tour the historic grounds, once one of Alaska’s largest mines. Set in a picturesque valley high in the Chugach Mountains, the site is like a beautiful outdoor museum, with original buildings—the oldest in the Anchorage municipality—and turn-of-the-century mining equipment. Crow Creek Mine has been in operation since 1896 and the start of the Alaska Gold Rush, at one time mining an astounding 700 ounces a month. World War II brought an end to the large-scale mining, but even today, some say that half of the original deposit is still buried in the ground. The very ground you’ll be mining! https://www.alaska.org/detail/crow-creek-mine#map

The Alaska Zoo started in 1969 with one baby elephant named Annabelle that was won in a contest. Since then, it has expanded to include 100 animals across 25 acres of the Anchorage hillside. The zoo has the widest variety of animals native to the state of Alaska as well as a handful of exotics that are part of a great center for education and research that focuses on wildlife conservation and animal rehabilitation. For 50 years, the zoo has been a nonprofit organization serving the wildlife and people of Alaska, as well as visitors to our state. We rely on admissions, donations, gift shop sales, coffee shop purchases and memberships to operate and care for the animals as we receive no city or state funding. The wooded hillside setting allows visitors to get close-up views of the many animals of the north along the naturally wooded boreal forest with gravel pathways. The staff takes pride in maintaining a natural setting for both zoo animals and visitors. https://www.alaska.org/detail/alaska-zoo

A visit to the Alaska Botanical Garden will completely change your perception of what can thrive in Alaska's challenging climate. As you step into this natural paradise, you'll be greeted by a surprisingly lush landscape, bursting with an impressive variety of plant species. Wander through the garden and discover hardy perennials like poppies, irises, Asiatic lilies, and roses that flourish in Southeast Alaska. The rock garden is a must-see, showcasing over 350 species of alpine plants. For those with a curiosity for herbs, there's an enchanting herb garden where friendly volunteers are often around to chat and share their knowledge. The Anchorage Heritage Garden is a delightful spot that offers a glimpse into Alaskan history. It replicates an old-style garden filled with vegetables, annuals, and perennials that were commonly grown in the early 20th century. The produce harvested here finds its way to local food banks, supporting the community. Don't forget to take a moment to breathe in the crisp, fresh air and listen to the gentle rustling of leaves. The garden's serene paths offer numerous spots perfect for reflection or capturing that Instagram-worthy shot. Whether you're a seasoned botanist or just someone who loves a good stroll through nature, the Alaska Botanical Garden promises an unforgettable experience.

Homesteaders. Entrepreneurs. Photographers. This petite, but very well-done museum in midtown Anchorage offers engaging proof of how the state of Alaska has been shaped - and is still being shaped - by a diverse community. It's open 1 pm - 6 pm Sunday through Thursday year-round (closed Friday and Saturday for the Jewish Sabbath). It takes only 15 minutes to see the exhibits, but you can also watch a 90-minute video about Warren Metzker, a legend of Alaska aviation who captained the Jewish airlift of Yemenite Jews to the newly-created state of Israel. Launched in the summer of 2013, the Alaska Jewish Museum was the brainchild of a group of Alaskans, led by Rabbi Joseph Greenberg of Anchorage’s Alaska Jewish Campus, who wanted to explore the Jewish history and culture that had made an impact on the state of Alaska - as well as the Alaskans who have made an impact on the larger Jewish community. They began by creating and partnering with various exhibits—for example, a 2013 exhibit hosted by the Anchorage Museum of Art about the work of Ruth Gruber. Though not an Alaska native herself, Gruber is a respected Jewish photojournalist who documented the early days of modern Israel and also spent time in Alaska decades ago, capturing valuable images of features and terrain that simply don’t exist anymore. https://www.alaska.org/detail/alaska-jewish-museum

What was it like for a family living in Anchorage in 1915? The Oscar Anderson House Museum, located in Elderberry Park at 5th Avenue and M Street, is the perfect way to find out. Oscar Anderson played a large role in the development of early Anchorage, and his house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The restoration took place between 1978-1982 with help from the Anderson Family, and particularly their daughter Ruth. The interior was intricately restored to represent its earliest décor. The Museum was opened to the public in the early 1980s and has provided Alaskans and visitors with a chance to experience life in early Anchorage for over 30 years. Tours are available by appointment and regularly from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Or come visit during Swedish Christmas, the first two weekends each December, when the house is elaborately decorated and special Swedish treats are available. https://www.alaska.org/detail/oscar-anderson-house

This museum in downtown Anchorage may house artefacts that are hundreds of years old, but its high-calibre collection—and its solid connection to the community—makes it feel like a living museum. Even though the art-gallery-sized space feels intimate, this is the largest private collection of its kind in Alaska. The museum was started by the First National Bank of Alaska in 1976, as a way for the bank’s owners, the Rasmussen family, to create a space for high-quality art and artefacts largely from Alaska's native tribes, such as the Northwest Coast Indian, Athabascan, Aleut, Yupik and Inupiaq tribes. Wells Fargo bought the museum in 2000 and has its own piece of Alaska history to share: the bank and delivery service used to ship gold out from the Klondike during the gold-rush days of the late 1800s and early 1900s, while also bringing in both miners and materials. To date, the museum’s collection now has about 6,000 artefacts and works of art, as well as 4,000 books, in museum branches around the state; this Anchorage flagship, though, has 900 pieces on display, including traditional clothing, a collection of historic Alaskan business tokens, a Bering Sea kayak covered in traditional seal skin, and paintings by such famed Alaskan artists as Sydney Laurence, Fred Machetanz and Eustace Ziegler. https://www.alaska.org/detail/alaska-heritage-museum-at-wells-fargo

Nestled in the historic 4th Avenue Market Place of downtown Anchorage, the Alaska Experience Theatre offers a unique glimpse into the past with its Earthquake Exhibit and Safe-Quake Theatre. This immersive experience transports you to the momentous day in 1964 when the largest earthquake in North American history, at a staggering magnitude of 9.2, shook the region on a fateful Good Friday. The theater does more than just tell a story; it lets you feel the tremors and understand the sheer power of nature. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated, providing fascinating insights into the science behind earthquakes and the impact they have on communities. As you wander through this engaging attraction, you'll find yourself captivated by the tales of resilience and survival from those who lived through the event. Anchorage itself is a city brimming with natural beauty and adventure. After your visit to the theater, take a stroll down the scenic Coastal Trail or indulge in some local cuisine at one of the charming cafes nearby. With its rich history and stunning landscapes, Anchorage is a destination that's sure to leave a lasting impression.