One of the best places to learn about Seward’s past, this eclectic museum (cityofseward.us; adult/child $5/free) has an excellent Iditarod exhibit, a rare 49-star US flag, and relics of Seward’s Russian era, the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake and the 1989 oil spill.
There are also lots of amusing antiques, including an ancient electric hair-curling machine, plus movies and a children's section. Read about tough frontier folk – like Nellie Lawing, who became so famous that a letter simply addressed to "Nellie, Alaska" would find its way to the roadhouse she operated. There are wooden road signs, a cross-cut of a 353-year-old tree, and flying gear from ace pilots like Hank Rosiness. The section on the Iditarod is another highlight: check out the Yupik-made fur-trimmed kuspuk (parka) and mukluks (boats) made for Dan Seavey in one of the first Iditarod races.
Equally moving are the photos of young pupils at the Jesse Lee Home. The boarding school operated in Seward from 1925 to 1964, and was home to indigenous children from the Aleutian Islands who were sent there (sometimes forcibly).
The staff are enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and worth engaging. The upstairs library is a good place to relax on a rainy day. Winter hours vary so check ahead.
