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WHERE ALASKA TELLS ITS STORY: INSIDE THE MUSEUM OF THE NORTH

They say you can’t be all things to all people,
but then you probably haven’t stepped inside
The University of Alaska Museum of the North.
Most museums choose one lane—art, natural
history, science—but this museum seems
determined to explore them all.
Perched high above the Tanana Valley on the
campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks,
the striking white building appears almost
sculpted out of ice and northern light. But what
waits inside is far more expansive than most
visitors expect. Part natural history museum,
part cultural center, part research institution,
part art galleries—and now home to a state-
of-the-art planetarium—the museum offers a
sweeping introduction to Alaska itself.
Described by many as “the tip of the
iceberg,” the museum extends far beyond the
public galleries. Beneath the galleries are 10
departments with research labs and collections
that house an astonishing 2.5 million objects and
specimens spanning paleontology, archaeology,
fine arts, ethnology, marine biology, genomics,
and more. Scientists from around the world
access the museum’s extensive DNA library and
research collections, and many of the museum’s
employees are also professors at the university. science and wonder are rarely separated. The bus was airlifted from the wilderness by
A Museum That Reflects Alaska’s Vastness Reaching for the Stars Alaska’s National Guard after repeated rescue
Alaska is impossible to summarize neatly, The museum’s newest addition is already incidents involving travelers attempting to
and perhaps that is why the museum feels so reshaping the visitor experience: a cutting- reach the remote site. The museum successfully
compelling. The state is a blend of extremes— edge planetarium with an 11-meter dome, 4K secured the bid to preserve it and plans to
Arctic tundra, rainforest coastlines, gold rush projection system, and seating for 65 guests. eventually create an outdoor exhibit.
history, Indigenous cultures, wildlife, glaciers, The idea had been discussed for decades More Than a Museum Stop
and scientific discovery—and the museum before finally breaking ground in 2024. “The museum is a great way to start or end
mirrors that complexity. The dome now showcases films on astronomy, your trip because you can learn about where
The Gallery of Alaska, the museum’s largest aurora science, and Alaska research produced in you’re going or where you’ve been,” said Parks,
and most popular exhibit, guides visitors collaboration with the university’s Geophysical “And I think it is very important for everyone to
through the state’s five geographic regions Institute. For summer visitors arriving during have that understanding.”
using displays that weave together history and the season of nearly endless daylight, the That philosophy extends well beyond the
natural science. planetarium offers something impossible building itself. Nearby visitors can explore the
“I feel like everyone, young, old, tourists, outdoors: the chance to experience Alaska’s university’s botanical gardens, home to the
and residents can get something out of that northern lights even under the midnight sun. origins of Yukon Gold potatoes and Alaska’s
gallery. Plus, there is an eight-foot bear, and famed peony cultivation, or visit the university-
who doesn’t love that?” said Christina Parks, operated Large Animal Research Station, where
Director of Visitor Services. musk oxen are raised and studied.
From intricately woven grass baskets to The University of Alaska Museum of the
towering animals and gold exhibits, every North is far more than a tourist attraction; it is
display seems to reinforce the reality that a gateway to understanding Alaska itself. From
Alaska is not just one story, but hundreds of the stories preserved in history to the stories
interconnected ones, intertwined into a mosaic Alaskans continue to tell about themselves, the
of history and culture. museum’s galleries and exhibits capture the rich
Art, Science, and Sound Collide blend of people, cultures, wildlife, landscapes,
One of the museum’s most fascinating spaces and traditions that define the uniqueness of the
may also be one of its least conventional. 49th state.
In a room titled “The Place Where You Go For more information, hours, and admissions,
to Listen”, visitors are immersed in sound and visit: www.uaf.edu/museum/
light that mimics the progression of the day. In
any given year, Alaska has between 20,000 and
50,000 earthquakes. Though it ranks as the most
seismically active state, most of the earthquakes
are not detectable by humans. The sound in the The Stories That Draw the Crowds
room is drawn from real scientific seismic and Among the museum’s most remarkable
aurora data gathered from across Alaska and permanent pieces is a fully intact 42-
transformed into a constantly evolving sensory foot bowhead whale skeleton suspended
experience. dramatically overhead. According to Parks, it is
“It’s not music,” explains Parks. “You can the only fully intact bowhead whale skeleton on
hear the rumbling sound of the earthquakes… display in North America.
and the aurora gives those higher pitches.” And Yet one of the museum’s anticipated future
because the scientific data changes each day, so exhibits may surprise some visitors: Bus 142, the
does the sound. famous “Into the Wild” bus associated with the
The result is haunting, mesmerizing, and book written by Jon Krakauer and later the film
distinctly Alaskan. A reminder that in this state, by Sean Penn

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