The Natural History of Alaska. The history of Alaska frequently brings to mind the native peoples, the “Gold Rush” period and the remarkable ice fields and glaciers still at work today. Where can someone go to get a good summary of the state’s cultural, ecological and geological history?
Just outside of Anchorage is the Alaska Museum of Natural History, which has recently begun an extensive expansion project that will eventually see its more than ten thousand artifacts housed in a new twelve thousand square foot facility.
Currently the museum is undergoing rapid expansion, but still maintains its many displays and exhibits dedicated to educating visitors and residents about the unique and historic environments that make up the state of Alaska. They have four permanent diorama displays about the many types of wildlife that inhabit the current environment, as well as space dedicated to the ancient creatures that are no longer in existence.
One of the museums most popular and successful dioramas is the “Broken Mammoth” site display. Constructed with several actual artifacts, as well as those modeled after items from the site, the diorama depicts a bluff which overlooked the Tanana River over eleven thousand years earlier. Early man had been living off the rich animal and plant resources of the region, and while many settled in the valley below, where any remnants or records of their time were quickly erased by the River, the group that camped on the bluff, left behind a remarkable history.
The diorama uses their actual fireplace rocks and hearth stones, and depicts them living a single moment of their day. There are mammoth ivory spear points, and spear throws, remains of the many creatures they used for survival including elk and snowshoe hares, and representative figures of Alaska’s earliest settlers.
In addition to its dioramas and current exhibits, the museum also has several large collections which were donated by patrons and include several rock, mineral and native artifacts collections, animal skeletons and skulls, economic minerals relevant to the Alaskan region and several other unique collections. There are also plans for further development of the humanities collection all ready in the museum, which currently offers sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, maps and textual selections on display.
The museum’s founders hope to continually expand the offerings, and to develop even more educational programming which will further benefit the curricula of the schools and universities throughout Alaska.
The museum sees over four thousand visitors each year, and travelers to the region are encouraged to make a visit in order to deepen their understanding and respect for the amazing diversity of the entire state.
201 North Bragaw
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 274-2400
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