Alaska State Museum

We took a quick visit before a whale watching tour, since we wanted to learn about the history of the area. I really enjoyed how it took you through time starting with the native people and their culture and artifacts, followed by the various modern colonizing groups and their effects on the area, and then into the eventual statehood of Alaska. There are multiple clean bathrooms, the museum is clean, perfectly lit, has a great layout, words are easy to read, the items on display are in wonderful condition and displayed well. There is a kids area with supplies to draw and make crafts as well as play on a ship. Overall it's a good experience that will take about 1 hour to get through. I would reccomend going her if you are in Juneau.

This museum takes you on a trip through Alaska's history and peoples, with well-organized exhibits. We were glad to see the emphasis on Alaska Native people. There was no evidence of editing history for political purposes. Four of us visited from our cruise ship for about an hour and a half. It was time well spent.

A wonderful museum with loads of information about the native peoples and the overall history of Alaska, good and bad. Allot enough time to take it all in; we were there ninety minutes; a few hours would not have been wasted. Nothing but praise for the good work done by this museum; the presentation and technology was terrific.

An incredible museum filled with Indigenous history, culture and arts and local art as well. We learned so much about the history of Indigenous tribes and their lives. I walked away with a deeper awareness and understanding of their diverse heritage and the beautiful ways they preserved the nature and connection with their land. Highly recommend! There is free parking and general admission for adults is $14. Free admission for up to 5 people if you are an active military member+family.

Another great museum with wonderful artifacts. Lots to learn. We enjoyed the visit. The staff was so nice. The facility is beautiful.

It was a nice museum, but REALLY dropped the ball when it came to the last section, the one I was most interested in, and looking forward to, the Geology. With how geology rich Alaska is, I could not believe they had basically NOTHING relating to volcanos, earthquakes, orology, samples of not only gold, but other minerals rich in the state. Glaciers, not a thing on glaciers at all. It was not worth the money I paid to get in, and they did not even give me the correct change back, did not notice until I got back on the ship. The coolest part of the whole thing were the massive ravens OUTSIDE the museum that a homeless man was feeding, they must have been about 3 feet tall!! I wish I had taken pictures of them, as they were not there when I left the museum. Take my $37 you did not give back from my $50 and use it improving your geological displays!

Well worth the visit !!! The first room of early history before outside contact was my favorite. Most of my time was spent in that area, be sure to check the drawers under the main exhibits to see more relics of the distant past. The historical library on the top floor is worth a visit as well.

Such a great hidden gem of a museum. Loved the displays featuring not just modern Alaska as part of the US but also displays featuring the culture of the area from the various time periods when Russia controlled the area, the native peoples and tribes and how the history of the area has shaped what we see today. Thoroughly enjoyed this museum and will visit each time in the future to see the changing displays

Is your cruise ship docked in Juneau and it's a gray, cold, rainy day (very possible!)? A trip to the Alaska State Museum is a great way to spend some time and get out of the elements! That's the exact weather we were faced with and we found the museum about a 15 minute walk from the port. This was the largest museum we encountered on our Alaska cruise and one of the best. Lovely displays of native art and key moments of Alaska history. Nice lockers for all your cold weather/rain gear as well! Definitely worth a visit.

An absolute must stop. I only had 45 mins to walk through but needed hours to read the history and study the displays. A well put together museum an a must see if in the area

A lovely place to spend time in while in Juneau. It is a short walk from where our cruise ship docked but there's only so many touristy shops you can shop in. We stopped at the sacred grounds coffee shop and happened to ask the Native American young lady working there about the museum- she said it was def worth our while to check out and that she actually knew people who loaned items to be displayed in the exhibits. Old artifacts, displays of art by locals, and the general history of Alaska can be found. There is a rack near the entrance where you can hang your coat to make your experience more comfortable, along with clean restrooms in the back section of the museum.

Alaska State Museum has a plethora of artifacts; animals, Tlingit people history, tools, trades, carvings etc... They laid this museum out very well and explained things simply with not too much reading. The artifacts are all in mint condition and have been well taken care of. Entry isn't that much but you do need to allow enough time to take it all in. If you're on a cruise make sure you go here first so you're not rushing or miss this special place altogether.

Very cool museum with a ton of authentic historical artifacts. We tour museums everywhere we travel and I always appreciate visiting a museum that isn't full of replicas. I loved this museum and would definitely return. A+ staff

This is a must visit museum when in Juneau! It's filled with so much interesting artifacts about the history of Alaska with animals, people and resources. Its located in the state library and is about $12 to get in. It's a smaller size museum so I'd say to reserve at least an hour to visit, 2 if you want to read more details. There is a gift shop with great trinkets.

Great stop. Learned so very much taking the kids through here. Very easy walk from the port area. Kids are free! Lovely museum!

This was on my bucket list, one of the only things on said list, related to the Alaskan cruise we were on. We docked in Juneau on a Monday (one has no control over what day it is). Walked over to the museum only to find it CLOSED on Sundays and Mondays. I was sorely disappointed! I find Alaska to be very interesting in our country's history and was so looking forward to it. You would think that they would open on those days to generate revenue. There were at least 4 giant cruise ships parked that day, with thousands of visitors roaming the streets. If only a few hundred patronized the museum, at $14 a pop, that would have easily paid a couple of employees to man the fort; with some bucks left over for the museum. I will just presume this museum is State run, with State employees, and thus no chance of that ever happening.

Really excellent museum at an easy walk from the port. Super artefacts. This explores the first peoples, colonization, the wars and so much more. It was 13 dollars for seniors, 14 for a general ticket and kids are free. There was a nice movie about sewing gut into clothing as the first peoples did. Pictures really tell the story here so check them out to see if this is for you.

Fantastic museum with some amazing displays and artifacts. Easy to understand explanations. Great layout. Very interesting exhibit on the abuse of Alaskan children by the clergy. And my favorite thing, the museum is attached to a world class archives library.

this was a lovely local museum for travelers visiting alaska and learn about alaskan history :))

It is a shame that most people will not visit the Alaska State Museum when visiting Juneau. This museum is just the right size for a great visit when in port or staying a few days. There is some parking in the area, but it's a short level walk from the port too. This museum is new and packed with a lot of Alaska history. They cover the native culture and history of development including Russian and American influences. It also includes more modern history including the fishing and natural resource economy. The exhibits are well done with lots of explanation and nice curation. The museum is relatively small although still big making it easy to visit in an hour or detailed enough to linger. They have free lockers to stash the jacket and backpack. Safety precautions are still in effect making the visit better for everyone. The gift shop was closed on my visit and looked rather small. The subject matter of history may not be everyone's vacation cup of tea, but I really enjoyed the break. The Alaska State Museum is close to the Alaska State Capitol with a long staircase connecting them for a nice combination. If you're looking for a different experience while in Juneau, head to the excellent Alaska State Museum. They have a great collection of history in a nice building close to downtown. Just make sure you make it back to the ship buffet on time!

A really informational and interesting and also the best museum I ever went to as a kid

This is a fantastic museum! There is a ton of content and history that covers a lot of Alaska history! Much of it covers the indigenous people with their customs and culture. As you progress through the displays it gets into detail of when it was taken over by Russia. From there it goes on to when Alaska was purchased by the United States, it's involvement in World War 2, civil rights movements within the state, the fishing and oil industry taking off and so much more. It's a lot of artifacts and reading so if you want to take it all in prepare a few hours to absorb it all! There was an area in the museum that kind of had an art exhibit area too. I really enjoyed this and it was completely unexpected. The displays in one part was comical sci fi sculptures of various scenarios kind of mixed in with Americana... but not necessarily in the most flattering kind of way. In addition to this art exhibit there were other ones as well... mostly hand crafted items which were impressive! Apparently this museum went through renovations and a remodel and it certainly worked out nicely(even though I don't know how it looked before) as it was fresh looking, clean and very welcoming!

No, I would not recommend visiting. Probably one of the worst museums I've ever explored. *Cost $14 per person (very expensive for what you experience) *Flow-path through museum/displays is horrible; you don't know which direction to go, resulting in confusion and unorganized grasp of information *Film on the cannery (their main/only presentation) is also horrible; slow and basically uninformative *Unprofessional military display; cardinal sin of having the US flag hung backwards (the Union of the flag is always supposed to be on the left-side; pic attached) *Some pictures and items had no descriptions *There really wasn't anything "interesting" to see or read in the museum *Waste of time and money * Nutshell: not interesting, unprofessional, boring, expensive Recommendations to museum: *Create a logical way-finding direction for visitors to follow *Get rid of things that clutter a display; you don't need to show every little thing you might have...focus on notable items. *Fix your significant flag display problem (backwards flag). *Reduce the price of admission (too high). *Get a totally different film to show; highlight the STATE of Alaska (not a local cannery), and make it fast-paced and quick.

Too expensive for what it is, but a nice quick overview of the rich history of Alaska.

A modern new museum with a lot to see in a fairly small footprint. I was intrigued by the history of Japanese in Alaska and all the artifacts. We arrived on a tour from a cruise ship so our time was short, but we were allowed enough time to briefly see the exhibits.

This museum is in a beautiful, well-maintained new building and is easy to walk to from the main part of Juneau. It should absolutely be on your list of things to do in Juneau. The exhibits are very well thought out - it really showed as a reminder just how many times Alaskan lands changed hands and the incredible resilience of Alaskan Natives over the course of time. The artifacts are interesting and displayed nicely. All of the staff we encountered here were also very friendly. It is definitely worth a stop to learn some important history of the state and region you are visiting.

Went to this museum on our first full day in Juneau. It is filled with such great history and artifacts. You could literally spend the entire day and not have read/seen everything there is to see. It's fantastic to see the influence from different cultures that have invaded the country. You won't regret your time spent here.

A must for anyone visiting Juneau, Alaska. Especially appreciated the history all the indigenous people living there for thousands of years

Good little museum very conveniently located to the waterfront aa well as the excellent Sacred Grounds coffee shop. Superb collection of Alaskan artifacts from pre-historic times through the modern era. Coat racks and lockers are available.

Lots of neat exhibits, but also strict about closing times. We were told by someone that has been before that it was "a good place to spend an hour or two". It took us 2 1/2 hours and didn't get through about half of the museum this time. The only reason I gave this a 3-star rating was that it says on the website that military and their families get a special rate, but they don't tell you that it is for active military only. Military is military, regardless of whether you're active duty or veteran

Took the family there and had a blast! Great educational place for the elementary age kids and awesome Alaskan history artifacts. Will definitely come back.

If you want to get a genuine feel for the juggernaut that is Alaska, then look no further than this museum. I can't tell you how the old one compared since I somehow never visited it when I lived in Juneau, but this new incarnation is a thing of beauty. I sought refuge here from the battering wind and rain with the goal to dry off and casually take in some history, and then I couldn't make myself leave. The volume and scope of their Alaska Native exhibit is beyond remarkable. Anything you could possibly want or hope to set eyes on is on display, including clothing, ceremonial attire, artwork, implements, weapons, and watercraft. All are elegantly and thoughtfully displayed with accompanying details for every single object. The other major portion of the museum is dedicated to Alaska the landmass and its vibrant history. Russian colonization, acquisition by the United States, the Gold Rush, statehood, war, industry, and the present day are all represented with a cache of artifacts that rival the Alaska Native section. It's an enormous feat to arrange these collections in a coherent and organized manner that doesn't overwhelm patrons. I honestly could have spent an entire day there just to properly absorb everything. The people of Alaska are fortunate to have such a grand new home for their state's many treasures. It was a privilege to be in the presence of such greatness.

Wonderful mix of current and historic artifacts - especially around native cultures. I particularly liked that there were exhibits that contained ancient artifacts mixed in with the current ones - showing how particular types of items are still relevant to cultures today, but how they've evolved with time. The flow also does a great job of telling the more modern story of Alaska statehood. It was interesting and there was more to read than we could have made it through. Admission is $12 for adults.

This was one of the better museums I have ever been to. For only $3 to $5, you get a virtual smorgasbord of information and imagery to sample from. Some of the highlights included: * A fabulous array of up-close killer whale action shots (I think this was a temporary exhibit) * A thorough description of the political history of the state and the various claims of ownership * A really interesting exhibit detailing the tools used for survival in Alaska's most barren and frozen corners In fact, the only problem I had with my museum experience is that our ship's tour leader only gave us an hour to spend there! You can do it in an hour, but only if you skip certain sections. Two or three hours would allow you to learn everything you can about the most unique state in the union. Winter hours run from 10am - 4pm and summer hours are extended slightly longer. Book your plane to Alaska today!

I was in Juneau on a Sunday. I walked to the Alaska State Museum from the cruise ship pier and discovered they were open 7 days a week. Admission is $12 and the museum contains exhibits about Alaska's history, cultures, natural history and a technologically amazing "Science on a Sphere" Allow at least an hour for the museum and make sure to play with the computerized Sphere, I suggest that you have it show earthquakes. The museum had clean restrooms and friendly docents.

Very nice museum. Many ancient artifacts from native cultures, historical items from Russian occupation to present day. Great atmosphere. Love the giant globe!

Good history and displays in the museum. 1 floor of displays. Discusses the beginning of Alaska and the salmon industry. Good to see and enjoy.

Great collection. Building is beautiful, brand new, the museum 's store is still close....but coming soon as well as the coffee shop. The museum is small but it displays a great variety of Alaska's history , nature and art. Kid will have fun too.

My husband and I were on the Viking Alaska Cruise. This museum was very close to where we docked and so we walked to it. The Museum was one of our favorites during the entire cruise. The artifacts were beautiful with excellent descriptions. There was so much to see and learn. The manner in which the items were displayed was well thought out and the building was a work of art as well. Do not miss this museum if you are in Juneau.

Clean, quiet, and peaceful. Tiny but jam packed full of information and interesting history.

The museum has undergone some great updates. It had been closed the last few years I understand. Wwll done!

While eating @ Tracy's King Crab we chatted up with some locals who recommended us to visit the museums. It was this one and City Museum. I'm glad we picked this one to go to. She told us "it's just around the corner and down the street". Ummmm we walked HELLA far. I was thinking to myself...this broad did that shit on purpose! But as soon as we went in my thoughts disappeared. Though it's small...the exhibits are able to give a great overview of the native Alaskan people and their culture. They have done a great job preserving their artifacts here. It's extremely kid friend with many hands on exhibits and even a childrens room! After seeing the natives pictures, clothes and artifacts...I'm pretty dang sure they came from Asia. They were extremely smart civilized people. Again and again we pointed and laughed about the tea pot which resembled the Chinese, the artwork that resembled the Tahitians, the hat that resembled the Vietnamese... My favorite laugh was "hey Jessica, old navy stole their idea with the anarack!", the "hey check out the designer bag" and "wusup with making gloves with claws for cat fights" lolz... (will post pictures) Definitely a must to go to. Laughing & jokes aside, I feel it's most important as a tourist to understand the history and culture of it's native peoples. If not...its just a pretty place. You need background to truly appreciate and respect where you visiting.

I didn't get to fully appreciate the exhibits while I was here, but from what I saw, it was really interesting. The bald-eagle exhibit was pretty cool, the raven stuff was interesting along with being a bit more kid-oriented. the staff were warm and friendly, and for $5(summer rates), you can't really go too wrong. Yes its a little bit of a walk(5-10 mins) from the rest of the tourist-trap stuff, but I don't think it'd be as legit if it was nestled between a jewelery store and a t-shirt store.

A MUST on your trip to Juneau. This museum was fantastic! So much to see, learn and appreciate. We spent most of our day here, and could probably have gone back another day if time had allowed. Thank you!

New building with beautiful, thoughtful exhibits ranging from ancient and contemporary native Alaskan art to statehood, mining, logging and more.

There really is no better place to go to see Alaskan cultural artifacts and history. Assuming you are coming in on a cruise ship, you will have time to check it out and do more before you depart. Though you might find yourself rushing a bit, and not be able to look everything over and soak it all in. With so many great excursions (still assuming you are coming off the ship) to do, it might be hard to get away to do it, but if you appreciate culture, it is certainly a valuable experience.

A must see on one of those rainy days. Outstanding museum (especially the Native American section)! Well designed and very educational.

My wife and I visited the museum and were knocked out. The staff were helpful and friendly. The layout was well arranged. We were able to easily tour the history Alaska through art, artifacts and multimedia presentations. It was truly fascinating and entertaining.

Modern, pristine museum. A little small but nice. Doesn't take long to go through. About $12 for adults and kids free. Kids section with an I-Spy that the kids liked!

A general catch-all museum on standout Alaskan history ranging from the earliest Indian dwellers up until history of the last 50 years significant to the Alaskan statehood.

A nice museum tucked a few blocks from the cruise ship docks - worth stopping in if you have the time. Their exhibits ranged from detailed Native Alaskan artifacts (not just from SE AK, but from all over the state) to history of European involvement to modern art created by Alaskans. Good for an hour or two.

Amazing well laid out and beautiful museum! Gives a great history of Alaska. We especially liked learning more about the indigenous people.

I love learning about history of a certain area when I'm on vacation, and the Alaska State Museum did not disappoint. Admission was reasonable, and we spent quite a bit of time taking in all the exhibits. It's a little trek from the main drag Franklin Street, but it was very nice getting away from all the crowds.

This has got to be one of the best museums I've ever been to -- and I've been to a lot of good ones. It's small but intense. So much to see and learn in such a small museum. I came on a cruise ship and didn't want to pay for the very expensive excursions. It was just a short way from the harbor and the price was certainly right--less than $8. You will see lots of information on Alaskan history. Being a student of history I was blown away by learning so much about the role that Alaska (territory then, not yet a State) played in winning World War II. Don't look for a large museum "store" but you can take all the pictures you want to show the folks back home. There's even an area ideal for the children where they can do hands on creations. This has got to be a must see while in Juneau. Try to allow a couple of hours to take your time, but you can get an overview in an hour if you're rushed.