JUNEAU
Mitigating Tourism Impact for 28 years
Fast Facts About Alaska’s Capital City Connect with Nature Winter Celebrations and Skiing
What’s New?
Juneau is well on its way to earning the distinction of being the Northwest Coast arts capital of the world. Located at the intersection of Front St and Heritage Way in downtown Juneau, Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Arts Campus celebrates Indigenous artists and tells the story of Southeast Alaska’s Native peoples, which began more than 10,000 years ago. Art can be found around every corner, with the campus and Walter Soboleff Building showcasing monumental form line designs and a 360-degree cedar totem pole – the only one of its kind in Alaska.
Sealaska Heritage’s project, Kootéeyaa Deiyí (Totem Pole Trail), will create a total of 30 kootéeyaa (totems) that will welcome visitors to the shores of Tlingit ancestral homelands.
Thirteen totems are raised with four more currently being carved. The project helps perpetuate the art of totem pole carving while educating visitors on the significance of this distinctive art form.
a w we co e v s o s o e shores of Tlingit ancestral homelands. The project perpetuates the endangered art of totem pole carving while educating visitors on the significance of this distinctive art form.
Another form of Alaska Native art that flourishes in Juneau is music. The Áak’w Rock Indigenous Music Festival will return this August. This three-day celebration of Indigenous music is one of the top festivals of its kind in the United States and provides a powerful platform for amplifying, celebrating, and honoring Indigenous voices.
Celebration 2024 is back in June!
Held biennially, Celebration is the largest gathering of Southeast Alaska Native people, drawing thousands of people, including more than 2,000 dancers
Finally, Travel Juneau will be introducing a series of videos by end of the year to educate travelers on the significance of the Kootéeyaa Deiyí, encouraging respect for the totems that travelers encounter. Subsequent videos will follow about the four core values of Southeast Alaska Native Culture and the first few videos in a series of artist profiles of traditional Alaska Native art.
ESCAPE TO JUNEAU THIS WINTER
(WE’RE A 2-HOUR DIRECT FLIGHT FROM SEATTLE!)
Each winter, Juneau buzzes with festive energy during the holiday season. The city’s holiday light displays shimmer against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, creating a captivating winter wonderland. The holiday festivities kick off the first weekend after Thanksgiving with Juneau’s Public Market, where local artisans showcase an array of festive crafts with an Alaska flair. In early December, the Gallery Walk invites everyone to explore the charming streets of Juneau – think of this as a getaway to the European holiday markets, but without having to use a passport. Stroll through galleries, interact with local artists, celebrate art and enjoy delicious treats along the way.
A winter visit to Juneau can also be rounded out with a stop at an under-the-radar “ski-cation” spot. Located just fifteen minutes from downtown Juneau, Eaglecrest Ski Area is an alpine paradise offering big mountain terrain and fresh powder with minimal lift lines for skiers and snowboarders. Eaglecrest offers a range of youth development programs and snow sports lessons catering to all skill levels. As an added perk, visitors arriving in Juneau via Alaska Airlines, the Alaska Marine Highway System or Alaska Seaplanes can trade their boarding pass for a sameday Eaglecrest lift ticket.
From the discovery of gold through World War II, Juneau was home to some of the world’s most productive gold mines. The Alaska-Juneau mine, which closed in 1944, extracted over $80 million in gold – worth more than $4 billion in today’s currency.
Juneau became Alaska’s territorial capital in 1906, a role previously held by Sitka. When Alaska became a state in 1959, Juneau retained its status as the state capital.
The city and borough of Juneau spans 3,255 square miles.
Juneau has the largest land area of any state capital, and the second-largest land area of any United States city. However, only 14 square miles of that is urban.
Juneau’s maritime climate brings comfortable summers, with temperatures in the 60s and 70s (Fahrenheit), and relatively mild winters, with temperatures typically in the 20s and 30s.
Juneau celebrates its commitment to equality, earning perfect scores for the past three years on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.
Juneau’s 45-mile road system is entirely self-contained, with no connections to other cities. Visitors can only reach Juneau by air or sea.
Juneau is home to:
Sealaska Heritage Institute Art Campus
A city-owned ski area
Juneau-Douglas City Museum
Alaska State Museum
An arboretum
Three professional theatre companies
A symphony
A lyric opera
Two dance companies
Three world-class music festivals: Alaska Folk Festival, Juneau Jazz and Classics, and Aak’w Rock Indigenous Music Festival.
Located in the vast Tongass
National Forest, Juneau’s verdant green trees, dramatic glaciers, and sparkling blue waters provide a spectacular setting for adventure for independent travelers and cruisers alike - all within 15 minutes of downtown:
Whale watching and wildlife
viewing
Lighthouse tours
Biking, kayaking, and ziplining
Salmon and halibut sportfishing
Gold panning and mine tours
Accessible glaciers for flightseeing/trekking
Over 250 miles of hiking trails
(Juneau has more miles of trails than miles of road)
