Demolished and rebuilt in a snazzy new $140-million complex in 2016, the result is impressive. Sometimes called SLAM (State Library, Archives and Museum), the museum shares digs with the state archives along with a gift store, the Raven Cafe, an auditorium, a research room and a historical library.
The beautifully curated displays catalog the full historical and geographic breadth of the state, from native canoes to the oil industry. There’s a wealth of extraordinary artifacts, including artistic pieces by Alaska Native artists from all regions, including items originating from the Tlingit, Athabascan, Yupik, Inupiat and more.
Other halls feature displays on the Russian period, the transfer of Alaska to the US in 1867, the gold rush days of the late 19th century, and the dreadful period of American missionaries and boarding schools. Various exhibits showcase the Alaska Natives' fight for civil rights. You can also learn about the state’s role in WWII after Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands when Alaska was suddenly on the front lines.
