Alaska Heritage Center

February 1, 2010

Written by Michelle McKinley, Anchorage reporter for RateitAnchorage

In terms of local attractions in Anchorage, few if any are quite as well known as the world famous Alaska Heritage Center. Located outside Anchorage on Heritage Center Drive, the Heritage Center has become a hub for anyone interested in the indigenous, cultural background of Alaska and its native peoples. Everything from storytelling to craft making and dancing are on display from May through September each year.

There are five main indigenous groups in Alaska, and each of them has its own cultural customs. The Heritage Center strives hard to ensure that each of those unique cultures is given equal footing to showcase what makes it unique - in art, dance, and history. The full sized villages crafted around the Heritage Center allow visitors from throughout the world to see what makes these cultures so special.

It's hard to cover all of the activities available at the Alaskan Heritage Center. The experience hinges on interaction with the native Alaskans who live nearby. These native employees regularly show people around traditional native homes and dwellings in the prefabricated villages built around a large pond at the center. Traditional Alaskan story tellers are present as well to outline the history and customs of the five indigenous cultures of Alaska's natives, alongside vivid dance and athletic competitions. Educational displays along with traditional crafts and artisans are also displayed throughout the year to show visitors the way native Alaskans lived and interacted, along with short films shown in the small theatre on the premises.

For those visiting from downtown Anchorage, there is a shuttle service available from the Visitor's Center at the Anchorage Museum. If you combine the trip to the Heritage Center with your trip to the Anchorage Museum the discounted rates make it a great deal. Single entry to the Heritage Center is $25. You may opt to visit the Heritage Center on a single day however as it will take at least a half day to enjoy the outdoor exhibits, the nature walk, and the numerous activities that are scheduled there each day. Additionally, you'll want the opportunity to converse with the native Alaskans who work there.

Another option that many visitors are excited by often is the ability to participate in the dancing and singing demonstrations. Much of the exhibition is interactive, allowing you to join in at a number of intervals throughout the day. Guides are well versed in what they are showing, and are usually recruited from local universities and history programs as students. Finally, there is a gift shop where many of the items and activities you witnessed will be available for purchase, or as mementos of your experience. For many people, the opportunity to visit a traditional cultural center in the midst of modern day Anchorage represents one of the most enticing reasons to visit the city on the bay.