Circle District Historical Society Museum

One of the best museums of any small Alaskan town is the Circle District Historical Society Museum in Central. Established in 1984, the main portion of the museum is a large log lodge that houses a miner's cabin, exhibits on early mining equipment and dog-team freight and mail hauling, and the Yukon Press - the first printing press north of Juneau, which produced Interior Alaska's first newspaper.

The most interesting display is the museum's collection of gold nuggets and gold flakes recovered and donated by local miners. This display, more than anything else, will help you understand why they continue to tear away at the hills and streams in an effort to find the precious metal.

Outside in a large barn is a collection of dog sleds and other large artifacts, including an unusual covered wagon - covered with metal, not cloth. The museum also has a small video area with tapes on mining and a variety of other topics, a gift shop and a visitor information area.