Bharat SainiLast Updated on October 15, 2020 by Bharat Saini
Fairbanks is relatively a young city in Alaska with a remarkable history of its own. The local museums in the city are prized gems for the community quietly sharing the remarkable stories of Fairbanks. Tourists board flights to Fairbanks to see its many unique museums and learn about the history, culture and lifestyle of the native people in the Golden Heart of Alaska. Book cheapest airline tickets now to visit Fairbanks and catch a glimpse of how people used to live in interior Alaska through one of the many museums in this charming city.
University of Alaska Museum of the North
Discover interesting stories about the native Alaskans, places and wildlife with a visit to the University of Alaska Museum of the North. You will see all these and more at the award-winning exhibit galleries of the museum. Whether it’s contemporary Alaska Native art, exotic wildlife or whatever your interest, you will find it all here in this amazing museum. Get ready to explore Alaska’s natural wonders, Arctic dinosaurs, diverse wildlife, Native cultures, ancient Eskimo ivory carvings, and 2,000 years of Alaska art through original exhibits, artifacts and stunning architecture. Your visit to Fairbanks won’t be complete unless you visit the University of Alaska Museum of the North.
Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
The Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum explores
Alaska’s dramatic journey to modernization over a century numerous historical exhibits, notably pre-World War II ago. The museum is located on the grounds of Wedgewood Resort, and prominently showcases automobiles. The museum also takes visitors down the memory lane tracing Alaska’s exciting and rugged formative years. You will be amazed to see the pictures of how native Alaskans used to customize their cars for navigating through the snow, riding on rails or even cutting firewood. The “alternative” vehicles of yesteryears are also showcased here, including the first V16-powered engine, the first American Midget racers, as well as early electric, steam and hybrid cars. The museum also has a rotating collection of more than 80 autos, including the 1905 Sheldon Runabout (first car built in Alaska), a 1917 Owen-Magnetic with an electric motor, the last remaining 1920 Argonne, a tulip shape 1903 Cadillac, and an 1898 Hay Hotchkiss. Car lovers shouldn’t miss out visiting the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum whenever visiting Alaska.
Tanana Valley Railroad Museum
The Tanana Valley Railroad Museum showcases the important role played by the Tanana Valley railroad in Fairbanks during the gold rush in efficiently and quickly moving valuable goods and people through a series of gold mines and supporting communities. These are appropriately displayed through on-site restoration, interpretive train rides and historical exhibits. The first railroad was laid in the Interior connecting Chena with Fairbanks, and later on with Chatanika. You will find the original steam locomotive called Engine #1 prominently displayed at the museum. It was brought to the area in 1905 through a steamboat and barge for pioneering the first track in Alaska for the Tanana Valley Railroad, formerly called Tanana Mines Railway.
Fairbanks Children’s Museum
The Fairbanks Children’s Museum is worth checking out when visiting with your kids. This only one of its kind museum in Alaska attracts children with its wide variety of interactive and rotating exhibits. There are lots of things to keep your kids entertained and engaged through various activities such as writing on chalk animals, viewing animal pelts under microscope, and climbing a Denali-themed rock wall. The wooden train exhibits, Tiny Town and the farmers market are also among the major attractions here. Consider visiting anytime between Tuesday and Friday to see a variety of short interactive programs. Catch the monthly concert series when visiting here on a Thursday. The museum also hosts a “Super Saturday” on the weekend featuring kid-focused activities. The Fairbanks Children’s Museum is surely a great place to discover the magic of childhood.
Ice Museum
The Ice Museum in Fairbanks is dedicated to all things ice. This unique museum opens in the summer season in May, and is sure to put the visitors in a winter mood even though you will be visiting here during the summer. Several large ice sculptures are showcased here. You will also come across freezers with huge ice tableaux, and a huge screen slideshow with the annual World Ice Art championships. The Ice Museum also has a freezer providing a feeling of 20 degrees below zero as you go in here. Though the Ice Museum is open for visitors in May, you may also plan your visit in advance with United reservations in February or March to see the Ice Sculpture Exhibition and the Fairbanks Ice Park Outdoor Kids Park.
Museums in Fairbanks are simply unique, interesting and amazing. Plan a visit to Fairbanks to visit one of these museums in the Golden Heart City. You will take golden memories back home.
