anchorage museum at rasmuson center

I spent 2 hours skimming in the Native section. I'm planning to spend another 2 hours visit sometime soon. Great collection of Native culture & their daily life exhibit.Oh..went there for the Lego exhibition as well..it was OK.

If you want to get in free, wait for the first Friday of the month and go in the evening, from 6-9 pm. This is a popular First Friday attraction in Anchorage. You can also get in free on the first Saturday of the month if you have a Bank of America account or credit card. I get in free with my Alaska Airlines Signature Visa card. But the parking will cost you. I like the rotating exhibits. Exhibits I've seen in the past include plastic trash in oceans, Arctic dunes, cabin fever, and Legos. The fixed exhibits are immensely interesting, especially the Imaginarium. These interactive science exhibits are fascinating for both children and adults. Don't miss the exhibit about passenger pigeons just outside the Imaginarium.If you like art, there is an art gallery. Be sure to also make your way to the top floor to view a timeline exhibit of Alaskan history, from the native people to the pipeline and beyond.You can find a coffee shop inside the museum, and a cafe near the museum lobby and gift shop.

Excellent attractions & Timely.The entire center is well kept with art and artists depicted in way that leaves one spell bound.Well done Rasmuson.

We visited on First Friday for free. The museum is very educational and worth a visit if you are in town. There was a lot of native culture displays. There is a small gift shop also.

Anchorage has a beautiful museum and its a must see if you are in the area. The history is rich and they have wonderful displays. I encourage any military folks stationed here to go check it out and learn more about where they are living.

I've been to the Museum several times in the four years I've been here. We really enjoy the First Friday events. Once a month, on the first Friday, the museum is open admission from 6 pm to 9 pm. They hold special events during that time, showcasing local artists, our local dance schools will put on shows. During the exhibition "Bodies", the dance group was outfitted in leotards painted with muscle groups and skeletal definition. I thought that was a great fun idea to promote the exhibition and the dance classes. Several school aged children's artwork can be displayed on the walls, and resident artist's sculptures are displayed in the courtyard. My children love the interactive science discovery room (they are 39 and 37). One of the favorite activities is making the sonic booms with the air machine. There is always a line. The Café at the Museum is upscale and a little pricey for a family group, but the food is so worth it. The executive chef takes great pride in being able to offer local cuisine cooked well, and presented flawlessly. The wait staff is right there when you want or need something. The Café area is small, and on exhibition opening nights, there is usually a line to get in. The taxidermy and static displays are informative and descriptions usually include trivia or some lesser known fact about the animal. I really enjoy going through the Native Arts section. The photographs of Native dress, and the explorers will make you slow down and want to read every description on the wall. Plan on spending two to three hours here at the very least. Enjoy !

I've been to the museum several times since I moved to Anchorage 2 years ago. I never miss the Native Alaskan Exhibits, It is my favorite part of the museum. The vast differences in the Native cultures from SE Alaska to the Aleutians to the far North is amazing. The collection is definitely one of a kind and too large to absorb in one visit. If your brain goes into museum overload, go downstairs and enjoy something to eat in the café. Then head back upstairs and look at some of the other exhibits. Since arriving in Anchorage I have enjoyed the 100th anniversary of flight in Alaska and the amazing Lego exhibit. I don't know how I missed the exhibit for the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Earthquake, but I guess I did. The museum shop just off the foyer is not to be missed, it is packed with all kinds of amazing items.If money is a problem then consider visiting the museum during first Fridays when the museum is open during the evening and is free to the public.

Alaskan art is unique and in addition to that there are special exhibits including ones if how the indigenous people's lived. These are life sized and extremely interesting. A must for children and adults alike.

We live in the valley (an hour north of Anchorage) so when we go to Anchorage, going to the museum is a reward for the kids after doctors appointments or shopping. We keep a yearly membership because it is worth the price for our family of 5, then even if we want to stop for something quick, we don't have to worry about getting our 'money's worth' each time. We can drop in for a quick visit between appointments.I homeschool, so within the Imaginarium there are several stations that we can use to teach science. And a the little kids area has come in handy when we have my daughters little brother, there are plenty of stations and manipulatives to keep him playing for hours. My kids LOVE walking through as seeing the art from local school kids, imagining their art pieces in a fancy museum someday.The ONLY two critiques that I have is: I wish that for members they could get some guest passes to use for occasion guests, AND some of the exhibits in the Imaginarium could use more TLC or quicker turn around when out of order.

Be sure to see the movies at the museum. We were there for the 50th anniversary of the earthquake. The pictures were great.

The museum handles different aspects: history, people, economics. There also is a great science part. You can try out some things yourself. Especially when you visit with kids it's a welcome distraction. As is the Planetarium.The exhibit on native culture was a good complement to the Alaska Native Heritage Center we visited on the day before.When we visited there was an awesome exhibit on pollution of the oceans by plastic.

During the time we had, my wife explored some of the broader museum and brought back interesting stories. On the other hand, my kids and I spent the entire time playing around in the Imaginarium Discovery Center, which has great interactive activities that engaged my elementary and middle school children.

Since we started traveling to Anchorage with our son, the Anchorage Museum has become a must visit destination while we are there. The Planetarium is fun and interactive, especially for a little boy who loves all things science. On our most recent visit, our Lego-obsessed 5 year old had to go see the Lego exhibit. My husband and I were also in awe at some of the creations. There was even a Lego station for the kids to make their own creations. I love that our Thanksgiving visits always coincide with the annual craft fair because I get to shop for wonderful souvenirs and gifts while I am there. We usually find parking on the street or at one of the surrounding garages. As long as there is nothing else going on, parking is fairly easy to find. If you're looking for something to do in Anchorage that is not touristy but still fun and educational, the Anchorage Museum is a great choice.

The permanent exhibits are a must see when in Anchorage. The new Smithsonian gallery will take several visits by itself before you can truly say you have seen it. With the constantly rotating new exhibits, and the community exhibits and events in the common area, there is always something new to see, even once you have managed to give the permanent exhibits their due.

We are museum buffs and we LOVED this museum. Impressive structure and building with thoughtful exhibits. We especially enjoyed the Smithsonian Arctic Exhibit and had fun in the Lego exhibit with amazing artistic Lego creations. We also enjoyed the art exhibits especially the stunning Mount McKinley paintings. This is a place you would go back to on each visit to Anchorage because there is so much to see and they have new exhibits. The accompanying Muse Restaurant is amazingly good. One of our favorite ways to help the museum financially is also dine at the museum restaurant. Muse is one of the best Museum restaurants we have experienced worldwide.