University of Alaska Museum of the North Displays Traditional Alaska

Schedule at least half a day for the University of Alaska Museum - you will need it.

Here you can learn about Alaska's natural history and many cultures in a resource-rich environment. They celebrated their 70th anniversary in 1999, and have just completed their new addition.

Power Play:

Energizing Our Lives
Fueling Alaska's Future

The museum's hands-on energy exhibit opened May 28, 2011 in the special exhibits gallery. This innovative examination of energy needs and sources in Alaska is co-produced with ACEP, the Alaska Center for Energy and Power. The exhibit relies on intricate mechanical devices and interactive stations to put the energy needs of Alaskans in the hands of visitors. Early humans relied only on the power generated by their own bodies. Then they discovered fire. Suddenly, our ancestors were able to access energy stored over decades, not just days or months, and transform it into heat and light. This new exhibit looks at the balance of power and energy in Alaska.The exhibit will remain until January 3, 2012.

Power Play features interactive games created specifically for the exhibit. In the city engine, guests power a model city with marbles that produce light and sound, while the wind tunnel lets users adjust a wind turbine and test blade performance. wind turbine and test blade performance.

Right:  Roger Topp and museum director Carol Diebel demonstrate the wind tunnel for UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers.

'Save America’s Treasures' Grant

An 1841 Russian blockhouse at the University of Alaska Museum of the North is getting a new lease on life, thanks to a $75,000 grant from the federal Save America’s Treasures program. The museum will work with log preservation specialist Sandy Jamieson to replace several damaged logs, stabilize the walls to prevent further deterioration and re-establish the building’s sod roof. The blockhouse has been disassembled for the preservation work and will be reassembled on a new concrete pad adjacent to the museum parking lot. The blockhouse was the first structure built by the Russian-American Company at Kolmakovsky Redoubt near Aniak. In 1929, the blockhouse was disassembled and moved to Fairbanks, where it remained in storage for more than 50 years. It was reassembled at the museum in 1982.days.

Membership: the gift that keeps giving

With benefits that include free admission to the museum, invitations to members-only events and a discount at the Museum Store, museum memberships are the gifts that keep giving all year. Gift memberships are available at the individual, couple and family levels.

To purchase your gift memberships, visit the museum admission desk or complete the attached gift membership form and return it to the museum membership office. For more information, contact Andrew Quainton at 907-474-6939 or acquainton@alaska.edu.

Happy Holidays!

Museum Hours
Weekdays: 9 AM – 5 PM
Saturdays: 9 AM – 5 PM
Closed Sundays and Christmas Day

Special Exhibit
Coffee: The World in Your Cup opens January 15 (see above)

TOTE Family Days
Look for upcoming themes like Marmots the Saturday before Marmot Day, Fish in February and Native Arts in March

Upcoming Events
Chocolate Bash - 4/9/11
Museum Open House - 4/30/11

24-HOUR INFORMATION
907.474.7505
www.uaf.edu/museum

Be a part of the Museum Family!

With the opening of our new galleries, there's never been a better time to join the museum family. Museum members enjoy a variety of exclusive benefits, including unlimited free admission. For more information, to become a member or to renew your membership, please contact the Membership Office at 907-474-6443, email museum.membership@uaf.edu or join online at www.uaf.edu/museum/membership.

For a complete listing of museum events, visit us online at www.uaf.edu/museum.

Hours and Fees

Winter/Spring Hours (through May 14 usually)
Weekdays - 9 AM to 5 PM
Saturdays - 9 AM to 5 PM
Summer Hours (May 15 - September 15)
Exhibit galleries & Museum Store: 9 AM - 9 PM Daily
Museum Café: 9 AM - 4 PM Daily

Admission Fees (including special exhibits):
Adults: $10
Seniors: $9
Youth (7-17), UA Faculty and Staff: $5
Children 6 & under and Free Museum members: Free

Museum members receive free admission for one year, a 10% discount in the Museum Store and invitations to exclusive, members-only events.

The Following may or may not still be available:

Aurora Program and Cultural Presentations

The museum has joined forces with the World Eskimo Indian Olympics to provide the dual productions--named "Northern Interpretations."

The program includes "Dynamic Aurora," a 50 minute presentation on the northern lights, and "Northern Inua," a cultural performance based on traditional storytelling, dance and athletic presentations.

Daily performances will start on June 1 and continue through Aug. 31.

Museum Gallery Exhibits

The main museum gallery is divided into five geographical regions of the state with exhibits detailing everything from dinosaur bone discoveries to intricate ivory carvings and a cross section of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. Their web site gives more information.

Blue Babe, a 36,000-year-old steppe bison, is on permanent display at the museum. The bison was preserved in permafrost near Fairbanks until recovered several years ago. Its skin is blue from oxidized minerals in the ground, and it is so well preserved that claw scratches from a predator are still visible in the skin.

The museum also offers visitors a look at why everybody rushed to Alaska in the first place. It is home to one of the largest gold  displays in the Interior.

The museum is recognized for its vast collection of Native American ethnographic objects and archaeological artifacts. The Geophysical Institute is internationally renowned for its aurora borealis research. Both are located on the West Ridge of the UAF campus.

Alaska Quaternary Center Lectures

The AQC invites visiting Quaternary scholars to present public lectures and brown bag seminars throughout the semester. Call the AQC at 474-5033 for more information. 

Book Readings

7 - 9 p.m. UAF English Department invites contemporary authors to give both craft talks and book readings at the Museum throughout the semester. Information: English Department, 474-7197.

Explainer Talks, Offered throughout the day. Free with museum admission. Explore Alaska's wildlife and culture in these 20-minute hands-on presentations.

Saturday Family Programs

Saturday Family Programs are designed to engage children and their parents/guardians in learning activities related to the Museum collections. The programs are designed for children ages 7-12 with a parent or adult mentor. Registration is $15 per child per session. Activities range from art instruction to science experiments.
The programs are scheduled throughout the school year.

Artists and Scientists: (Junior Curators Camp)

The museum offers free daily explainer programs; brief 20-minute presentations on such topics as Alaskan archaeology, bears, wolves and Yup'ik Masks. These free walk-in programs give visitors an opportunity to touch and feel the museum's extensive hands-on collection.

Outdoor exhibits on the museum grounds include two nature trails, totem poles, contemporary sculptures, a mining stamp mill, a trans-Alaska oil pipeline cleaning pig, a remote sensor, and an auroral research rocket.

"Reflections," the museum's newspaper is your free guide to the museum's exhibition galleries with updates about museum collections, research and education activities. 

Features also include a UAF campus map and visitor site descriptions and mail order information for museum store products.

The Museum is open year-round.

Call (907) 474-7505 for 24-hour information

University of Alaska Museum
907 Yukon Drive, 
PO Box 756960, 
Fairbanks AK 99775-6960

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