The most well known type of art made by Alaska Natives is the totem pole. No Alaska vacation is complete without seeing a few. Carver Nathan Jackson (the most famous carver in the world) works at the Saxman Carving Shed in Saxman, two miles south of Ketchikan. You can see him work there most days during the summer.

Alaska Museums

Alaska has a museum in nearly every town

Befitting the nation's largest state, Alaska has dozens of museums spread from Ketchikan to Kotzebue and from Unalaska to Anchorage. Some feature art; others celebrate Native culture; still others honor airplanes and trains. Many museums are on cruise-line routes along the Inside Passage. Starting from Anchorage, the museum fan can reach two dozen institutions within a half-day's drive. Almost all the museums and cultural centers are free or charge a token entrance fee.

Anchorage:

Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum:
4721 Aircraft Drive, Lake Hood
907-248-5325
Hours:
May-Sept.: Daily 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Admission:
Adults $6; Seniors and military: $4.50; Children 7-12: $2.75; 6 and under free.
Description:
20 aircraft of various types including a 1928 Stearman C2B, a 1934 WACO YKC, a 1929 Travelair 6000B, a 1937 F-24-G, a 1937 Stinson SR9 "Gullwing," a 1943 Grumman Goose and a 1943 PBY 5A Catalina Canso. Exhibits include The Aleutian Campaign during WWII; Wiley Post and Will Rogers; the search for Carl Ben Eielson; historic polar flights and much more. A selection of historic aviation videos, pioneer pilots and their achievements is shown in the theater. Museum shop sells models, pins, clothing, stuffed animals, postcards, jewelry and other items relating to aviation. www.alaskaairmuseum.com

Alaska Museum of Natural History:
201 North Bragaw
907-274-2400
Summer Hours: Tuesday - Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm
Sunday: 12 to 5 pm
Closed Mondays
Admission: Adults: $5.00 Children: $3.00
Description: Largest exhibits of rocks, minerals and exciting rare fossils in the state. Learn about North America's oldest duckbill dinosaur found in the local Talkeetna Mountains, as well as our major dinosaur discoveries of the 90s. Dioramas rich in ecology, large mammals and birds.
www.alaskamuseum.org

AK Museum

Alaska Native Heritage Center:
201 North Bragaw
Toll-Free (800) 315-6608
Summer Hours: 9 am to 6 pm
Admission: Adults: $20.95 Children: $15.95 (Ages 7-16)
Free for children six and younger.
Description: An educational and cultural institution for all Alaskans, the Alaska Native Heritage Center provides programs in both academic and informal settings, including workshops, demonstrations and guided tours of indoor exhibits and outdoor village sites. Local residents and visitors to Alaska are introduced to Native traditions and customs of both the past and present. The Welcome House is a celebration of contemporary Alaska Native cultures while the outdoor facilities and sites allow the exploration of ancient tradition and the presentation of stories from the past. The Center provides a unique opportunity to experience Alaska's Native cultures in one location.
www.alaskanative.net

AK Museum

Anchorage Museum of History and Art:
201 North Bragaw
907-274-2400
Summer Hours: Everyday: 9 am to 6 pm
Admission: Adults: $6.50 Children: ($2.00 Suggested)
Description: A world-class museum located in the heart of Alaska's largest city, the Anchorage Museum of History & Art began as a public-private partnership to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the purchase of Alaska from Russia. The Museum opened its doors in 1968 with an exhibition of 60 borrowed Alaska paintings, and a collection of 2,500 historic and ethnographic objects loaned from the local historical society.
www.anchoragemuseum.org

Statewide:

Alaska State Museum: (Juneau)
395 Whittier Street
907-465-2901
Website: www.museums.state.ak.us
Summer Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, May 16 through September 23.
Winter Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, September 24 to mid–May.
Open free the first Friday of every month, Oct.-April, from 4 until 6:30 p.m. Closed holidays.
Admission: Summer $5.00. Winter $3.00. Those 18 and under are admitted free.
Description: Established in 1900, the Museum collects, exhibits, and interprets the human and natural history of Alaska. The Museum features a full-size bald eagle nesting tree and extensive ethnographic exhibits on the cultures of Alaska's Native people. Two galleries offer changing exhibits. Docent tours scheduled throughout the summer. Arboretum on grounds features Alaska plants. The Museum provides statewide museum services and assists in the development of the state's cultural and historic resources. The Museum Store, operated by the Friends of the Alaska State Museum, offers a wide array of Native arts, publications, and educational materials. Accredited by the American Association of Museums.
www.museums.state.ak.us

Kenai Visitors & Cultural Center: (Kenai)
201 North Bragaw
907-274-2400
11471 Kenai Spur Highway, Kenai, AK 99611
Hours: Open year round: Mon. – Fri. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. with extended summer hours.
Admission: No admission fee – donations accepted.

Totem Heritage Center: (Ketchikan)
601 Deermont Street
907-225-5900
Hours:
Summer – Open every day, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Winter – Monday thru Friday 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Closed
General Admission, $5 (May thru September only)
Description: Visitors to the Totem Heritage Center are awed by a world-renowned collection of original, unrestored 19th century totem poles, retrieved from abandoned Native villages near Ketchikan. Additional exhibits illuminate the rich culture of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people of Southeast Alaska. Located on Ketchikan Creek, across from the Tribal Hatchery and Eagle Center. Enjoy a totally Alaskan experience within walking distance of downtown. Native crafts, books, cards and gifts available in the shop. Accredited by the American Association of Museums.
Totem Heritage Center Website