Alaska Visits
Anchorage Area
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Big Game Alaska Wildlife Center
August 2002 |
South of Anchorage, near the turnoff to Portage Glacier, the Wildlife Center lets you get very close to some of the larger Alaskan game.
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Portage Glacier Retreating behind the hillside, Portage Glacier is now best viewed from the boat. It is called the most visited glacier in Alaska. It is an easy day trip from Anchorage.
August 2002 |
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Alaska Zoo 4731 O’Malley Rd Anchorage, AK 99507 A stop at the Zoo will introduce you to most of the Alaskan wildlife. The zoo is small enough that even children will navigate it easily.
We saw a great display on how you can contribute to real science. Be a Citizen Scientist http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/management/nongame/citizen_science.cfm
August 2002 April 2007 |
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Earthquake Park Anchorage, AK
August 2002 |
This park commemorates the 1964 earthquake. Much of the devastation has been healed; the remainder is visible only by comparison with the “before” pictures.
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Alaska Muesum of Natural History Eagle River, AK
August 2002
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The books and brochures rave about the gem and mineral exhibit. We found this museum closed, and the gem and mineral exhibit, which the brochures raved about, gone. No one seemed to know whom to contact. |
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Dorothy Page Museum 323 Main St Wasilla AK 99654 907-373-9071 fax - - 9072
August 2002
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Iditarod Museum Mile 2.2 Knik Rd Wasilla, AK
There are many locations that claim to be the headquarters or start of the Iditarod. This was one of the more fun ones. Take the kids on a dog-sled or dog-cart ride, depending on the weather. There’s also tons of memorabilia on the Iditarod and dog-sledding in general. As an amateur sport, dogsledding seems to be one of the most challenging.
August 2002
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Iditarod Trail Committee PO Box 8708000 Dept HQ/RC Wasilla, AK 99687 907-376-5155 August 2002
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Museum of Alaska Transportation Po Box 870646 Wasilla, AK 99687 907-376-1211 http://www.alaska.net/~rmorris/mati1.htm location: mile 47 Parks Highway 3800 West Neuser Drive The enclosed exhibit is amazing: if it used to roll or fly over Alaska, it’s here now. The outdoor exhibits are even more impressive: the locomotives, in particular. Most impressive to me was the US “buzz bomb”, patterned after the German V-1 weapon in WW2 and intended for bombing the Japanese mainland as a prelude to invasion, they were built and tested in Alaska. August 2002
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Alaska Outfitters – Walk on the Glacier Glacier Park Mile 102 Glenn Highway 907-745-2534 This is not a 501(c)3 corporation, but a for-profit enterprise. But for learning about glaciers, there’s nothing to beat actually walking on one. You can do that here, but not at the parks.
August 2002
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Alaska Sealife Center 301 Railway Ave PO Box 1329 Seward, AK 99664-1329 1-800-224-2525
Funded by Exxon Valdez settlement money, their intent is to build an Alaskan equivalent of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. But they seem to be priced well over the market.
August 2002
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Alaska Kenai Fjords National Park Tour Alaska Heritage Tours 1304 4thAve Anchorage, AK 99503 877-258-6877
The best way to see the glaziers in Kenai Fjords part is by boat. The boat tour takes you to several. Along the way, the Alaskan wildlife is stunning. We saw bald eagles before even leaving the harbor. Take this tour to see the animals in their habitat. The Alaska Sealife Center allows you to seem them up close.
August 2002 |
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Alaska Public Lands Information Centers 605 W. 4th Ave Anchorage, AK 99501 907-271-2737 August 2002
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If you’re doing any hiking or exploring, this is a good place to start for maps, reservations and advice. The center is fun to explore, too. |
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Imaginarium 737 W. 5th Ave #G Anchorage, AK 99501-2129 907-276-3179 August 2002 The Imaginarium took a few of the San Francisco Exploratorium’s exhibits and re-created them. Targeted at a younger crowd – 8-12, it is compact and friendly. |
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Russian Orthodox Museum
We saw this one, but did not have time to stop. Maybe next time.
April 2007 |
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Anchorage Museum of History and Art Corner of 7th and A Anchorage, AK http://www.anchoragemuseum.org
The museum is quite large, tucked away in downtown Anchorage. We liked the historical segment best, though the artwork is well displayed, too.
April 2007
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Alaska Trooper’s Museum 245 West 5th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501-2345 This is a very small museum, packed with artifacts. A newbie may not be able to make sense of the collection. Talk to the staff to hear the stories behind the displays.
http://www.alaskatroopermuseum.com/
April 2007 |
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Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum 4721 Aircraft Drive Anchorage, AK 99502 (907) 248-5325
Right next to the airport, this museum features a simulator – the best place to park your kids – and a restoration shop as well as several heavily-weathered aircraft outdoors.
April 2007 |
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Wells Fargo Museum Wells Fargo Building http://www.wellsfargohistory.com/museums/alaska.html
This is a tiny museum, somewhat hidden in the bank building. It includes an interesting coin collection as well as a very cool carved chess set, as well as the “usual” Alaskan heritage items. NB: they keep “bankers hours”, Mon-Fri, Noon - 4pm.
April 2007 |
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Denali National Park
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Tour of Denali Park Denali Park Resorts 241 Ship Creek Ave Anchorage, AK 99501 Large and famous, if you want a fast tour of the park, try this. August 2002
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Fairbanks, Alaska
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Alaskaland Park Pioneer Park Pioneer Air Museum Pioneer Museum and Stampede Show PO Box 70176 Fairbanks, AK 99707 907-456-8579
Alaskaland is part amusement park and part historical park.. The Pioneer Air Museum and the Museum of Alaska Transportation in Wasilla have many related exhibits. They would benefit from rotating exhibits from the MoAT outdoor facility to Fairbanks.
August 2002 |
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UAF Museum of the North Room 127 Signers Hall Faribanks, AK 99775 907-474-7551
The University of Alaska, Fairbanks is approximately the Smithsonian of Alaska, with exhibits on natural history and human history.
The museum has a beautiful new building. The display exhibits are packed. The museum also serves as a source for scientific studies, particularly of Alaskan history and culture.
August 2002 April 2007 |
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Alaska Oil Pipeline
This not a non-profit organization, but interesting technology. There are stops along the road explaining the design of the pipeline and how the pipeline is permitted to expand and contract with changing temperature.
August 2002 April 2007
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Ft. Knox Gold Mine
This not a non-profit organization, but interesting technology. The mine does give tours and explains their process.
August 2002
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Mush for Kids http://www.friendsofact.org/news_events.html
The Mush for Kids is an annual event, held in early April, as winter releases its grip. It serves both to introduce the broader community to dogsledding and to benefit the Alaska Children’s Trust.
http://vitalrecords.alaska.gov/ocs/ChildrensTrust/default.htm
April 2007
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Ice Musuem Chena Hot Springs 1 Hour East of Fairbanks, AK
The hot springs has its share of tourist attractions, but impressive here is the ice museum. The plan of record is to keep it open all year round at 20 degrees. The displays include hotel rooms that appear to be usable. Be sure to see the equipment, including the ice lathe.
April 2007 |
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