EXPLORE A VIBRANT WORLD OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN ANCHORAGE By K A T I E P E S Z N E C K E R
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hether you’re culturally curious, artistically inclined, or hungry for history, Anchorage’s diverse arts and culture scene has you covered. Museums scattered across town feature perspectives, relics, treasures and experiences that offer a little of everything for Anchorage visitors. For many, the journey begins at the venerable campus of the Anchorage Museum, at 625 C St., an easy walking distance for downtown-dwelling tourists. Permanent installations include “Living Our Cultures, Sharing Our Heritage: The First People of Alaska.” This interactive gallery reverently showcases Alaska Native history, arts and culture, featuring more than 600 objects from the Smithsonian, selected and interpreted with counsel from Alaska Native groups. From traditional clothing fashioned from skins and furs, intricate bead work and baskets, and hand tools dating to long-ago times, it’s an impressive collection highlighting the resiliency and beauty of Alaska Native cultures. The Alaska Exhibition highlights the ingenuity, technology, and connection to place that have allowed Alaskans to thrive in the last frontier, touching on areas such as aviation exploration, the military in Alaska, and significant industries like mining and oil. Nearby, the Art of the North exhibit populates impressive gallery bays with sculptures, videos, photography and paintings, including the timeless works of Sydney Laurence, Alaska’s most-loved romantic landscape artist. Rotating exhibits running during the summer of 2022 are featured on the museum’s website. They include “Counter Cartographies: Living the Land,” examining people’s relationship to landscapes; the immersive “Lies, Lies, Lies” exhibit from Paola Pivi, a multimedia installation; Stuart Hyatt’s “Stations” installation which probes listening as a way of making sense of the world; and “Dissonance and Disturbance” from Christina Seely, addressing the relationships between the planet and humans. The museum store sells unique items, with proceeds benefiting educational and
public programs and exhibitions. A café in the atrium sells coffee, tea, and snacks. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. For cultural tourism devoted to Alaska’s Indigenous first people, the Alaska Native Heritage Center offers an encompassing celebration of the history and experience of Alaska Natives. The center opened to the public in 1999. The Native Heritage Center is an indoor and outdoor facility that covers some 26 scenic acres, located northwest of the Glenn Highway and Muldoon Road. Its largely Alaska Native staff educates visitors about the enduring legacy of Alaska Natives, including their resiliency, unique traditions and shared experiences. It includes exhibits, demonstrations, a café and gift shop. Many visitors will be surprised by Alaska’s broad range of Native cultures and traditions, and the Heritage Center presents an extraordinary chance to see it all in one
place. Situated alongside a picturesque lake, the center includes recreated village sites, a glimpse into more traditional ways of life that visitors can freely explore. The Heritage Center, at 8800 Heritage Center Dr., is open year-round with updated hours posted on its website. The Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center are the two big shows in town, but many other cultural centers and museums address both broad topics and niche interests. Downtown Anchorage, visitors will find the Fraternal Order of the Alaska State Troopers Alaska Law Enforcement Museum. Admission is $5, or $3 for military, law enforcement, youth and seniors, and the museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays. This specialty museum houses the state’s only collection of historical law enforcement memorabilia, including an authentically restored 1952 Hudson Hornet automobile. The Troopers museum also sports antique radios, handcuffs and leg irons, early wiretapping
The “Must-See” presentation in Anchorage! Come and enjoy Alaska’s finest Aurora Borealis ever captured on film. Showing in the comfort of the Sydney Laurence Theater, at Anchorage’s premier arts complex, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.
ACPA 6th Ave Entrance Shows Daily on the Hour • 10am to 8pm • May 24th – September 1st No reservations required. Municipal fees may apply. Group, senior, military and child discounts available! For more information (May 24th - September 1st) (907) 263-2993 • LobbyBoxOffice (September 2nd - May 23rd) (907) 333-1506 • Home Office Email: auroracollection@alaskan.com Or visit www.thealaskancollection.com
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