Things to do nearUniversity of Alaska Museum of the North

Founded in 1917, the University of Alaska Museum of the North holds one of the most significant collections of Arctic and Subarctic materials anywhere in the world. Its holdings span more than 1.4 million objects and specimens, ranging from geological samples and biological collections to Alaska Native art and historical artifacts gathered over more than a century of fieldwork across the state.

The galleries take visitors on a journey through Alaskas deep past and living present. The geology hall displays gold, minerals, and meteorites, while the biology wing features mounted wildlife from Dall sheep to brown bears. The centerpiece for many visitors is Blue Babe, a 36,000-year-old bison mummy excavated near Fairbanks and preserved in extraordinary detail by permafrost. Rotating exhibitions regularly bring in contemporary Alaska Native artists and cutting-edge Arctic research.

The buildings architecture, designed by Joan Soranno and completed in 2005, is itself a draw. Its curving white forms echo glaciers and the aurora borealis, and large windows frame views across the forested hills surrounding Fairbanks. The museum also hosts guided tours and educational programs that connect visitors to ongoing university research.

Few places in Alaska offer this depth of engagement with the land, its wildlife, and its people in a single visit. For those exploring Morris Thompson Center and the broader Interior Alaska cultural landscape, the museum is an essential stop.