Alaska State Museum Reviews

It has a lot of great stuff. The kids room is beautiful. It's incredibly sad they crammed all the taxidermied animals into such a tiny weird uninteractive space. The feeling of magic in the old design of the upward spiraling walkway around the eagle's nest as a central experience in the museum is sadly lost. As is the inspiring interaction with the lighthouse light. Things feel sterilized and warehoused. It's not ugly, and it certainly needed an update from the past, but it's sad they couldn't figure out how to keep things on a more up-close scale that makes the things in the museum really come alive. It seems they didn't have as many of their paintings displayed anymore, which was dissapointing. Perhaps they're elsewhere is the building, but not allowed to be seen by the paying museum goer anymore. The security at the front has let their tiny grasp of power go to their head as well, quite rude both times we've been there so far.

What a great opportunity to learn more about the history of this amazing state! The museum is filled with historic artifacts and relics. You can stroll at your own pace to examine the exhibits and read the stories about life in days gone by. Worth a trip for first time Alaska visitors.

It has an incredible collection of native artifacts - I personally spent all the time in the area dedicated to native cultures (by region) and skipped the more contempo stuff - there are a couple of volunteer guides that make it that more informative

Started our trip visiting Alaska in Juneau and went through this museum as part of our first day. Very nice overview of the state and its history. From native peoples to the arrival of Russians and then Americans, it nicely presents the story of how Alaska evolved on its way to statehood and how it has developed its economy.

Only open a little over a year. This place houses so much cultural and native history of the pioneers of Alaska. It was really interesting. I stayed about 2 1/2 hours could have spend more time but was catching a boat out of town.I was fortunate that the museum Director happened to be giving a tour so I tailgated along. A really interesting an lovely lady so knowledgeable and passionate about Alaska's history.I think they should have self guided post at the bigger exhibits inside the Museum where you can push a button and she explains all the details. A self guided tour with stations. They do have a snack bar on site.

Walking distance to Cruise Port. A lot to see inside. Nice gift shop. They have a great library where you can access everything you need. Free Wi-Fi if you were stuck in the cruise without one.

Great museum and native art gallery. Fascinating information and easy to walk through. Definitely worth a stop.

This museum was literally next door to our hotel (Ramada by Wyndham Juneau) and so when we had some free time we took a tour and we were glad that we did. It's always good to know more about the history and culture of any place you are visiting!

The State Museum covers Alaska’s wide history very well. Displays are clearly defined and presented in a manner that easily flows. It is not too big and not too small. I felt it was easy to move at my own pace within a reasonable timeframe. I saw items I have not seen elsewhere and learned new things. You must take a walk around the tree of eagles in the foyer.
This building also houses the State Archives and Library.

Fantastic museum!! I saw so much history and the sadness of colonization onto native Alaskan peoples. I learned a lot and now I am woke af!

This is a very nice museum with lots of collections over the years. It is very interesting and a great way to learn about Alaska on those rainy days when you need an indoor activity to do.

This state museun begins with the early Native Alaskans and takes you through the development of Alaska through the fishing and lumber industry, oil pipeline, development of Statehood and current life. Extremely well presented. Need several hours to really enjoy it all.

we spend a couple of hours here. Didn't realize we viewed the exhibits in reverse order, oops! Kids really enjoyed the youth area, and the Princess Sophia sinking exhibit was really interesting.

Outstanding displays! My first time here, security lady was walking by and could read my mind of where I was going so she lead the way. Thanks for displaying my state's and some war history.

It's a small museum but worth a visit because it shows the different periods of Alaska's habitation. Lots of interesting artifacts, and a great place to visit during a rainy day in Juneau

Permanent exhibit on Alaskan history was excellent— well laid out and well documented. Fascinating exhibits throughout history. Special exhibit Mug-up was fascinating.

this museum is well worth a visit while in juneau.it is a beautiful building and has many items of alaska.

Our glacier tour was delayed due to weather, so we decided to check out the Alaska State Museum and I'm so glad we had a chance to go! We walked from the cruise port...a bit of a walk but not terribly far. The museum itself really isn't that large, but they have so many artifacts and Native items to tell the history of Alaska that you can easily spend hours in the museum taking it all in.

WOW! This is a must-do if you're interested in the history of Alaska and its peoples. The impression of native artifacts and more modern Alaskan history and culture is really something to take in over several hours. The museum isn't overwhelmingly large, but somehow, it's collection is! It never feels overwhelming, though it does seem to go on forever (in a good way!) There is also a nice children's section and a beautiful gift shop. Highly recommend this!

This is a very complete museum display on Alaska starting thousands of years ago and coming up to near present day. A must see for any visit to Alaska.

Not knowing a lot about Juneau or Alaska before this trip, we really enjoyed our morning checking out the museum. We had the time, so took the whole morning so really enjoy all the displays and read the information. You could spend hours reading all the information! Nicely laid out and informative displays.

The Alaska State Museum is great! There is a lot of history about the Native culture and persecution as well as Russian influence. This is a fun adventure into history for all ages. The admission really is awesome, and the artifacts are preserved nicely.

I had a little time to kill before our cruiship was sailing out and I was glad I visited the museum. Architecturally, it’s very well done, isnide and out. It’s smaller in size, but manageable and they had a great exibit about SS Princess Sophia, that sank nearby the Vanderbilt reef in 1918. The permanent exhibit gives a great overview of the Native American culture, mainly the Tlingit, the Russian era, as well as the American chapter of uts history, eversince the purchase. The museum store is nice too, but the espesso at the cafe hit the right spot. Even if you have only half hour, it’s worth it.

Loved the art of Nathan Jackson, did not know at the time that I will see him in person the following day in Ketchikan at the Saxman Totem Park, where he has his studio. The museum is quite new, I believe two years old and was extremely informative and impressive.

The museum is very well kept and has a lot of information. Easy layout and I was able to learn a lot about Alaska's history that I didn't know before. Not very interactive for kids, mainly just reading panels and looking at artifacts. Not in the middle of downtown, but it's an easy walk from it.

When our cruise ship got to Juneau we were scheduled for a whale watch and glacier visit, but a cold rain was falling so we took a walk from the ship into town and visited several shops and this museum.

The building is modern and the exhibits are attractive; we particularly enjoyed the displays related to Native Alaskans.

This museum offers a nice side trip if inclement weather makes outdoor excursions unappealing or unfeasible.

Budget, at least, two hours. This is full of art, clothing, and tools from the first native people of Alaska. It also shows a timeline from 1800s to present on significant history in Alaska. This is a must see to truly understand this amazing region and the people of the past and today. Clean bathrooms and parking available. Those who need assistance, there were a couple wheel chairs available, some seating, small gift shop. There is an entrance fee. The museum was reopened in 2016 and is well done.

Enjoyed this museum for overall history of area. It was a little expensive to get in, but all very thoughtfully presented and cozy. Artifact details were on the glass which made the presentation cases look much less cluttered.

Interesting museum covering Native Americans, gold rush, fishing, oil & gas etc. that have affected Alaska. Great installations not boring behind the glass displays

We had one full day in Juneau and it was raining as it often does. So we decided to visit the Alaska State Museum and were so glad we did. The museum takes you through Native Alaska, Russian Alaska and American Alaska. I particularly enjoyed the displays relating to Native Alaska. I would thoroughly recommend visiting the Alaska State Museum whether it's raining or not.

This is a great place, a lot of money has been spent on high tech and up-to-date museum design and it really shows. There is something to please everyone here. Lots of buttons to press and levers to pull for the kids, lots of ways to take in information (visually, auditorally etc).

Its got a very striking design and it covers a number of museum elements - history, art. exhibition etc.

The gift shop showcases non-tacky souvenirs and the coffee shop is also very good and contemporary. Make this place a must visit.

this is only a year old, state of the art museum about all things, Alaska. Items that we have never seen before, and we go to a lot of musuems, all relevant and well displayed. Sometimes the signage isn't as clear as to what item it refers to but most of the time there is no problem. The seal hunting kayak is mindblowing in its complexity and cleverness. Worth 2 hours of your time, and the food trucks outside are delicious and locally owned and operated.

If you go to Juneau, you're missing out if you don't go to this museum. It really is the best thing about Juneau. It's fantastic. Well designed, fun, beautiful, informative, inspiring, engaging, enlightening, gorgeous. I've been to a lot of museums in my life and quite honestly, this is in my top five. Gotta go. And no it doesn't take forever to get through, and yes, the kids will actually LOVE IT. Alaska has a great artists named Ray Troll who did phenomenal artwork in collaboration with a buddy scientist of his of dinosaurs in AK, yes, dinos in AK, bet you didn't know that, did ya. Just go.

This very attractive and well organized museum manages to cover a lot in a in a fairly compact space. Both the history and the native art of the state are represented, including such little remembered periods as the Russian rule over Alaska, and the Japanese occupation of some islands in World War II. The museum is a short, easy walk from the piers, and cruise passengers would do well to skip some of the souvenir shopping and visit here instead.

The exhibit on Native robe weaving, the history and revival of native arts, crafts and culture is excellent and beautifully designed.

I came into town on a cruise ship and I wanted to see and experience Juneau in a short amount of time. A short walk away from the pier is the Alaska State Museum and for me it proved to be a very good choice of attractions. It is medium sized museum that you can take in for a very reasonable entrance fee and it affords visitors a chance to get an outstanding overview of the state's history. It offers the viewer a time capsule of the region from pre-historic times to the present. The museum is arranged along a timeline and is very well thought out with beautiful displays. The tourist who is interested in history and museums will love this place. The building is modern, boasts a coffee shop and book/gift shop near the entrance and it is an excellent way to spend about 90 mins. If you come to Juneau on a rainy day as I did, it is an especially nice attraction. You can get in out of the rain, browse around the museum in comfort, do a little shopping in the gift shop and finally grab a nice hot cup of coffee to warm you up before you head on to the next site on your itinerary. In my opinion a visit to the Alaska State Museum is well worth the time spent.

I learned a lot and this was a well organized and laid out exhibit. Thorough history of Alaska. Even had free lockers to story your stuff if you're traveling with a backpack.

Great museum with lots of Native articles. Very interesting exhibits and videos. Glad we stopped in to check it out. Would recommend.

This museum is especially useful in understanding the Tlingit people and culture. They have amazing artifacts and present a vivid portrait of how the native people survived and thrived in harsh conditions. I highly recommend a visit as well as a similar museum in Sitka

The museum is well laid out and has loads of information about the history of Alaska. You could spend all day here if you wanted to read everything and not miss anything. There is a cost, but very reasonable.

No, I would not recommend visiting.
Probably one of the worst museums I've ever been to.

Cost $14 per person.
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 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.

Recommendations:
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...display and 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 Alaska, and make it fast-paced and quick.

This is a cannot miss place if you have a few hours in Juneau and really want to understand some of the history of Alaska. Exhibits are well done.

Full of beautiful and interesting exhibits on wide-ranging, regional topics. Displays are filled with well-curated, well-preserved artifacts, clothing, etc. Cruise ship only allowed about an hour for our visit but twice that could have been easily spent. Good little cafe is located in the museum as well.

Beautiful new museum with plenty of great information about the history and culture of native people. I couldn't enjoy the excellent displays about killing seals and WWII.

So much information to see, read, and absorb. The large chainsaw was awesome. The amount of information is so much maybe browsing is best to just get the highlights and previews of what you have seen and what you will see while in Alaska.

We spent alot of time here; great exhibit of native culture, Russian history, gold rush days. It is one of the few worthwhile places to visit in Juneau.

Quite a collection of native Alaskan stuff. Lots to see on a stop on a 'highlights tour of Juneau'. Very friendly staff.

Very well presented museum with lots of history and exhibits. We were fortunate to also see a current exhibition. Good activity for a rainy day or to while away a couple of hours. The library upstairs looks excellent.

This museum provided a great overview of Alaska and its history. It is a short 4 block walk from the cruise ship pier and is an inexpensive way to spend an afternoon while avoiding all of the pricier tours offered.

Great insight into Alaskan history & culture. Very clean. Many boat exhibits. History from Russian times to today.

This museum is packed full of Alaska history. A great place to learn a lot about Alaska and its history. We recommend a stop here

This is a very nice museum. It tells the story of some of the main industries in Alaska and the history of the local people. The collection includes items from native Alaskans as well as Russians and 'Americans'.

If you want to gain an appreciation for northwest native culture and Alaskan native culture in particular, this is a must visit. Very well documented displays with easy transitions through the topics. Masks are currently required. Need to confirm hours of operation in this pandemic.

Excellent museum with permanent exhibitions on Alaska history and culture. Large exhibition hall has changing installations monthly and for they remain for 3 months in the summer. Reasonable entry fee, parking under the museum. Upstairs is the State Archives with a unique glass installation worth seeing.

This is a beautiful new museum in Juneau and well worth a visit. It allows a visitor a very comprehensive review of the history of Alaska through interesting and well designed displays. We visited while on an Alaskan Cruise recently. It is an easy walk from the cruise ship dock...about 15 minutes, or a $5 cab ride. It is suitable for all ages.

The native Alaskan were very hardy people and it was an eye opener to see how they lived , survived and made everything by hand.

Here you can find info on the canning business and the history of the people that made this part of the state very interesting. It is small but worthwhile to see.

We paid the visit to ASM in a quite morning. Besides the heritage of aborigines and the Alaskans, it also include a section of WWII. Some very rare footage about the WWII are showed. Some exhibits of remains of animals are also very interesting. It's good for teens for a morning visit.

Organized into exhibits focused on cultural groups, from Native tribes to Russian fur traders to Anglo Americans, beginning with gold prospectors and ending post-statehood, some of the artifacts displayed could have held their own in an art museum, especially finely woven baleen baskets and a couple of conical straw hats crowned with clan emblems, one a frog. The accompanying texts explained that clan mascots were animals with which an ancestor had had a supernatural experience.
Throughout, the texts were clear and thorough. Together everything could be viewed and appreciated in an hour. I was surprised to learn that Alaska's Athabascan people called themselves the Dene or Dene’aa, which meant “the real people” and was almost identical to the Navajo name for themselves, the Dine. A linguistic map showed that Athabascan languages were indeed spoken by indigenous groups in northern New Mexico, as well as a bit of southeastern California.

I loved all the great artifacts of the early inhabitants of Alaska!
They used every thing available to survive in such a harsh
environment and no electricity!

The museum is a short walk from downtown and is divided into three sections: Native Alaska, Russian Alaska, and American Alaska. The Native Alaska section has a lot of interesting exhibits on the different first people cultures that inhabit the state. The Russian Alaksa section is much smaller. The American Alaska section takes the story into the present day. There is also a space for temporary exhibits. I saw "Mug Up", an interesting exhibit about the Salmon Canneries. On Mondays, the museum is open in the afternoon only. I arrived at opening time and was there until the museum closed three and a half hours later.

Our tour stop of 90 minutes was inadequate. This is a very nice small museum packed with displays and information. If you have some flexibility, it would be great for a rainy day as there are a lot of outdoor activities to draw you away. Very informative, thorough, and respectful of native alaskans. Nice helpful staff.

My wife and I spent 5 hours at the Museum (with 1/2 for lunch). The displays are exceptional. There is a wonderful display of Alaska native materials, including canoes, kayaks, weavings, masks, tools,.... Other displays include the Russian period and recent history, especially WWII. There is a large area for a temporary exhibit, which had a truly exception exhibit of the art work of Ray Troll (ends August 2019): lots of humor in paintings of extinct fauna; must see if you're in Juneau before the exhibit closes; check out his web site! Restaurant has limited butr sufficient offerings, very reasonable prices, Phillippino staff.

I visited this museum during a cruise stop in Juneau. It has a wonderful detailed exhibit on the history of Alaska starting with the history of the native tribes, Russian colonization and the acquisition by the US. It is well set out, clear and engaging. As good as any top museum anywhere in the world and probably the only one devoted to The history of Alaska! Kids might find it hard to focus all the way through, but they are free so you can bring them and not feel bad if they just dabble. It’s just 10 minutes to walk from Downtown to this museum and was well worth it.

This modern museum is very attractive in layout. It is worth a visit to learn about the history and culture of Alaska.

Vibrant colors & design of the Aboriginal Art, way of life & culture. Small museum. Staff were friendly. But, no actual tours were given.

This is a new building, built 3 years ago and is so well presented, well worth a stop on a rainy day.

The Museum is state of the art exhibits that are interactive, and full of history. The other delight is the Raven Cafe (not to be confused with the one on Front Stree) They serve the most delicious Adobe burrito filled with tasty soft pork and chicken. The couple who manage this small cafe are very friendly. Sitting is limited, but you can take your food fare outside.

This museum had very nice displays. Many interesting artifacts. Museum was clean and well done for the most part. However…I had to downgrade my rating. I felt there was a very very strong “political agenda” going on, to the extent that I felt offended. Maybe this was the goal? There are parts of history that many would not be proud of but this went well beyond. If you are not left of the line, I suggest you bypass this one. Unless you have thick skin and can take the endless digs. You also might like this if you just go to view displays and skip reading…in the video on the cannery, they even went so far as to place the blame for closing it on capitalism? What? Hmmmm….

Beautiful museum with a rich story of Alaska. It was the perfect place to get to know the history of the land.

First of all, the venue is terrific and very well utilized in terms of all spaces. The quality of Tlingit, Tsimshian & Haida artefacts is suburb. Exhibits flow from
Russian occupation to the sale of Alaska in 1867 to the USA. Mining, logging & fishing industries are well represented as is the military where the brief Japanese occupation in Alaska was concerned. The traveling exhibit featured was the sinking of the CPR Steamship Sofia. This also was well done albeit short on exhibits (the video presentation is excellent). Where the museum falls short is in the descriptive elements. Most are very poorly lighted and many so low one almost has to get on ones knees - even then those of us with glasses can’t make out the complete text. This was a point of frustration for me and , I think for anyone wanting a complete comprehension of context. Overall, I highly recommend a visit when in Juneau.

A man on shore as we left our ship, seeing we had small children, suggested we head to this museum. I'm not a museum type but was willing since we had our grandsons with us. (6 & 8) We walked over and were NOT disappointed. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this beautiful museum. Alaska should be very proud of it.

Never knew there were so many different indigenous tribes in Alaska. Each had their own language, customs, clothing styles, dwellings, etc. Each tribe had a huge glass case filled with these artifacts. Very well done. Need several hours to do it justice.

This is a great relief from all of the tourist shops. Beautiful exhibits and so tastefully done. Amazing displays and artifacts. The history of Alaska and significant Alaskan events all in one place..

This was a wonderful museum to get such an overview of Alaska. it is a beautiful place to begin with and filled with so much. It is put together so you are not overwhelmed with stuff but really get an understanding of Alaska and its history. It is just a short walk from where you get off the ships if you arrive by cruiseline. It is a great alternative to the endless shopping that many tourist seem to love. It truly takes you from Alaska's beginning right up to current day history and art. The price is reasonable too.

A new and well-designed building lends itself to a sensitive, beautiful, and descriptive display about all of the different Nations that made up what is now Alaska. There are also small, poignant displays on the Russian imperialist and US-imperialist times. Then, you move on into displays about Alaska in the 20th century including discussions of WWII's impacts, and the tragic shipwreck of the Sophia. Well-worth the 12$ entrance fee.

This is a beautiful building with attractive displays. We spent about two hours there and left feeling like we should have spent more time. They do an excellent job of presenting the early history of Alaska. There is so much there that you could get tired of reading.

This is an excellent place to gain an insight into the heritage and history of Alaska. Numerous displays of Native American artwork, carvings, and bead work are on display. Early pioneers and their stories add insight. Numerous Alaskan wildlife is on exhibit in many areas. The display on Japan's invasion of Alaska during WWII brings up a topic that few are aware.

There should be something here for everyone's interest. The state has done an excellent job of helping to educate those attending.

I’m not normally attracted to museums but I was to this place. The layout and presentation was excellent. The story and history of the native Alaskans was first rate with heaps of artefacts to depict their lifestyle and habitat. There was also a section on the purchase of Alaska from the Russians and the part Alaska played in WWII. We spent an hour here to have a good look around. It is worthwhile if you want to learn about the history of Alaska.

This is a beautiful modern museum, very interesting. Don't miss it if in Juneau. Many original native artifacts, early mining objects including an electric mining railroad engine.

This Alaska State Museum showcases the geographic, native culture and state history in an engaging way. It is worth a visit, with something for all ages.The building itself is well designed with multi-media and close-up exhibits. Summer Admission is $12/ seniors $11, but free for all 18 and under or military families.

Unfortunately we only had enough time to quickly see the museum. We had planned to go back but ran out of time. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. They have done a wonderful job with the displays and educational aspects.

We came in on a cruise ship and decided to spend a few hours at this museum. It was done so well and they have curated so many fabulous indigenous artifacts that we could have spent more time. It was such a great introduction to the history of this area and its people.
We were also so impressed that we knew of a few of the collectors/donors. The photos that I took do not do it justice by any means, so you will have to see if for yourself.

The displays are really amazing! I could have spent all day here... The staff in the archives room were particularly helpful; found and copied several old documents for my spouse. The building is lovely, clean, worth a visit just for itself.

We weren't sure what to expect. Turns out, we found a very enjoyable afternoon exploring Alaskan history. The artifacts were well laid out and had a good story to tell. Of particular interest to us was the early inhabitants and the Russian influence. I suspect it can get crowded (we were here during the off-season), but everyone was very helpful and we really enjoyed learning about the state.

This museum is so well done. It's one of the best museums I visited on our 2 week tour of Alaska. Great history, art, gift shop, views of downtown Juneau. Don't miss the large Eagle next replica in the lobby! If you're a history lover, YOU MUST GO!

I was impressed by the quality of exhibits and the sense of history the museum instills. Kudos to the curators.

Insightful museum for the history of Alaska. Well set out with plenty of exhibits. Easily spent a couple hours and the cafe had good coffee.

I have been to a lot of Museums, allover the world, this one dose not disappoint. Nicely displayed and organized. I would visit again!

$12 entry fee for a loop around the first floor. If you haven't seen one of the Alaska museums you should see this one. Quick side trip just a few minutes walk from the cruise dock.

We were not there 5 minutes before my 6 year old was told to quiet down - for whistling. Not hollering, not screaming, yelling or throwing a tantrum, but for whistling. Do you know how loud a 6 year old can whistle? About the volume an adult can hum.

I was shocked to say the least. I had brought my children here to learn and glean knowledge and nearly immediately it was communicated that children were not welcome, and anything other than a library hush was unacceptable.

Imagine my surprise when towards the end of the museum there was a kids section! I have no idea how it can be tolerated when museum employees so clearly hate children. To further add context, maybe an hour before a complete stranger approached me at lunch to say how well behaved my kids were, so hopefully that would indicate I am not a Karen running around with brats.

To say I was disappointed is a great understatement, this museum has so much to offer the next generation - if only they would allow them to discover it.

It was a very informative and easy-to-navigate museum, that gives a complete timeline on history of Alaska. Lots of interesting artifacts and a deep dive into the various native cultures. It was also a great length- we were in and out in about 1.5 hours, and felt like that was plenty of time to read most things! Definitely worth the visit if you have a spare couple of hours in Juneau.

The Alaska State Museum is not far from the pier and well worth a visit. The exhibits are outstanding, and you’ll learn a lot about the cultural history of Alaska.

We met our tour group at the museum and I was really impressed with the museum from the authentic home, and the history of Alaska. Enjoyed the map on the floor and all the exhibits.

Wheelchairs and elevators available. Parking garage under the museum. The design and flow of the museum are well though out. This building appears to be fairly new---there were display drawers throughout that didn't yet have items in them. It will not take away from the existing displays when they add items. The mixture of historic and artistic was well done. I learned a lot and enjoyed this immensely.

Excellent value at 12 usd each for a very comprehensive museum. Well explained museum from native cultures and artefacts to the Russian settlers and subsequent sale to the U.S., gold rush and up to recent history. There was also a dinosaur exhibition. Very absorbing for an hour or more. Slightly out of the main town but well worth the extra walk.
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I love museums and this is an excellent one. The displays are well thought out and visitors are able to follow the historical development of this state easily. I liked that the printed guide had some featured items to search out.

Good museum, sensibly laid out and exhibits well presented. You get the history of Alaska from the earliest natives through the Russian occupation and to the acquisition by the US and subsequent development (not always so respectful of culture and environment) Architecture well designed and consistent with the message.

This museum was just the right size, very informative. Every display was thoughtfully arranged and easy to see. A wonderful overview of the amazing Alaska heritage. Good for children as it is not too large and overwhelming, with walking trails nearby.

This was part of cruise excursion and we were frankly more interested in the other two portions when we booked. We were told we would have about 1.5 hours here, and we thought that was plenty of time. However, our tour driver warned it wasn't nearly enough to really appreciate the museum and she was right. It was much larger and more extensive then we expected. It provides a nice overview of Alaskan history and culture and they had some very good exhibits. If we had more time, we would have spent more here.

This is a great museum that was recently renovated. Excellent exhibits and the temporary exhibit the Crusin the Fossil Freeway, which I was so excited to see while visiting. I loved seeing the fossils and Ray Troll art! Perfect day.

Visited as part of my post cruise tour. I found it interesting. History of Alaska, stuffed animals from Alaska. It also has a current Alaska art section.

Fantastic, unexpected very interesting museum of the Alaskan history and heritage. So much information and exhibits of the indigenous people with the history of the Russians and other nationalities living in this part of the world. Great history of how the Americans bought it from the Russians, who actually never owned it?? Very thought provoking and so unfair to many. Well worth the visit, so glad we made an effort to find it and go see it.

The museum was advertised as being open Tues thru Sat, but we arrived on Tuesday only to find that they changed to Wed thru Saturday. The library was open so their answer was the Tues open meant the library. Disappointing!

Big, beautiful museum in a small town setting. Beautifully curated exhibits with a good balance of historic and contemporary art and information. Highly recommend.

This is a great spot to learn about Alaskan culture and history. Very attractive museum space that you can tour easily on your own. Native cultures, World War II, the Gold Rush, and the fishing and lumber industries are all on display with artifacts and photos.
Nice gift shop, as well. Well worth anyone's time.

This is a top notch museum worth any amount of time you have to explore. As its titled, it has a very broad spectrum of all history aspects of Alaska. The native displays were beyond description in their detail. This is a special treasure to explore. We were on a cruise and the tour gave us an hour to visit. I could have easily spent two days at top level interest. If you have any free time, its worth your time to check this out.

Beautiful collection from The animals, to the sale from Russians, industrial expansion and local history the mesum hosts a great introduction to some of what can been seen in one of the most beautiful states in our country. There is a gentle reminder why it is so important to travel and see through other people’s eyes. I was touched by the tribute to the first people, presented without a lecture. I’m sure some visitors will miss the reminder of what was stolen and taken from First Nation people. A must see.

This was a surprise, a pleasant one. It is a reasonable walk from the cruise ship dock and well worth the entrance fee. It takes one from pre-history to modern times. The native and Euro-Asian meld is a fascinating story. Furs, gold, oil, greed, shipwrecks, war... it's all here..

Everything about the native peoples seemed hyped. One displayed repeatedly stated their understanding of their history was accurate. That is actually condescending since that effectively states only the museum curators really know and can judge these peoples. And they further state the native peoples had excellent educational and healthcare systems. Like their history, this may well be true yet we are given no reference points because the curators' judgment is paramount. There is no celebration of what of what many of these tribes have become today and that their potential is realized in their present quality of life and successful enterprises. The facility is wonderful and every display attractively presented. Well worth seeing but with active discernment.

Enjoyed this museum. They have free parking, cafe, lockers and of course Alaska History. Nice new facility.

I am always interested in the indigenous cultures of different countries. This museum had great displays of cultural artefacts from several of the indigenous cultures. They were well displays and comfortable surroundings. There were small sections on world war II, oil and gold and the russian influences. There was very little on natural history. The museum cafe made excellent coffee, they knew how to make a real macchiato.

Beautiful resource showing the history of the area with original artifacts. You could spend hours here. There were many interesting exhibits, detailing the progression from past to present. We did not understand the sculpture in front of the museum. It’s an anachronism!!

Called into this museum when we were in Juneau with no great expectations but were really impressed with the quality of the exhibits and the layout of the museum, definitely well worth a visit.

We only had 45 minutes in this museum and I wish we had had more time. It was so well done and contained very beautiful artifacts and displays. It covers the history of Alaska and significant Alaskan events. My teens enjoyed it too. I wouldn't choose this activity over one of the outdoorsy things to do in the area (e.g., whale watching) but it is definitely worth a stop if you are in Juneau. Much more pleasant that the jewelry shops on Franklin Street!

A perfect place to visit on a rainy, cold day in Juneau. It is very well done with history and memorabila of Alaska. Four of us walked from the cruise ship to it's location.

Great to spend a couple of hours l arming about the local history. Lots of info relating to the different cultures and ways of living.

The Alaska State Museum houses an incredible collection of artifacts from throughout the state’s history. The museum includes well curated sections on native peoples, the Russian era, the American era, territorial times, and more modern history. The museum is a must visit for anyone interested in learning more about Alaska history and culture.

The little cafe is a nice place to stop for coffee or lunch.

This museum is a must see in Juneau. There are permanent exhibits on Native Alaskan culture, Russian control, and Alaska as a U.S. territory and state. This year's temporary exhibit featured Native art installations. One of the rooms featured raincoats and parkas made from dried sea mammal's intestines. Since I had seen the permanent exhibits in previous visits, I spent nearly all of my time in the temporary exhibit. There is a lot to see here.

The Alaska State Museum has an excellent set of exhibits about indigenous culture, the gold rush, and a tragic sinking of a passenger steamship.

New facility with great exhibits. Can spend several hours studying the history of the local people. Very well done with lots of original material.

A must do while in Juneau, Alaska. Rich in history and culture the museum educates visitors on the area and the people of Alaska.

This is a bright, modern museum with well thought-out displays. Open just a couple of years, the exhibits show the lives of the native peoples and the effects of the European colonists who came and took their land. Well worth a visit.

I think this museum is a must see if you are in Juneau. The collection is displayed beautifully and isn't overwhelming. We learned so much about the history of Alaska from the First People, the Russians and finally the United States. The museum covers so much including the politics, arts and crafts of the region and historical happenings. There is also a very nice gift shop that carries items from Alaskan artists. We were very impressed with this wonderful museum. There is also plenty of free parking and it was a wonderful way to spend a rainy morning.

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.

This is a great museum that covers indigenous life with great exhibits and walks thru Russian and US history in the area. A great overview of this area of Alaska

The museum has some fantastic exhibits and is certainly worth visiting. From the story of the Native American and their journey from Siberia to how they live today to areas such as the fossil history of the area and much more. We also found the staff incredibly helpful. A must see in Juneau.

Very nice museum with many interesting exhibits. The staff is knowledgeable and answered our questions. Easy walk from cruise port.

We loved the informative, colorful displays, and the gift shop had some excellent items at good prices!

I allotted about 90 minutes to visit but I could easily have stayed much longer. Admittedly I'm a history geek, so a deep dive is possible here, but you can also enjoy a shorter experience. The design and detail are very well done and user friendly. Easy to feel how Alaska has developed to today. Also impressed by the respect for indigenous culture and the inclusive nature of the exhibits. I found it intriguing and enjoyable and wish I'd have given myself more time to better immerse myself.

A very interesting museum, however I really don’t have enough background on the Alaskan native population to appreciate the finer points. The exhibits on attempts to map Alaska, the early Russian influence, and the sale to America, were all vary informative.The movie on the wreck of the princess Sophia, The Alaskan equivalent of the wreck of the titanic, was both fascinating and morbid. I do not know if it is part of the permanent collection.

Hands down one of the best museums I’ve been to. It does an excellent job of helping people understand the context for both the art and the cultures that are there. Because it helped me to understand why, in a land where so many live relatively isolated lives in forests, art focuses on what’s around rather than things like portraits.
If I lived here I’d be comfortable in thinking that I could learn something new each time for a LOT of visits; that right there is the sign of a good museum
Excellent highlighting of some similarities and differences among the peoples of the north, and how it drives society and what they use and make.
Also the impact, both positive and negative, of the changes brought by Russians and Americans.

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.

This museum if off the beaten path in Juneau and can be quite a hike if you are coming from a cruise ship; but it is well worth the trip. It tells the story of Alaska from the beginning to present day. The artifacts are amazing; and the information is very descriptive and interesting.

This museum near the capitol was loaded with information and artifacts about the gold rush, the indegenous people, a famous ship that sank- and was a short walk from the piers making it a perfect addition to our visit to Juneau.

Interesting historical exhibits telling the story or Alaska and Juneau.
Did leave feeling rather sorry for the native peoples - who seemed to have had a "choice" of being exploited by the Russians, or exploited by the Americans at different points int time. But also impressed that they and their culture had survived through it all.
Textiles, tools, and stories - with a number of more recent recreations too.
Glad we visited, recommended for a rainy day - which ours definitely was!

We are so glad we stopped to checkout this museum. Yes, it is a little small but it is a great size for getting out of the rain and a short stay from a cruise ship. The history to be found was both fun and educational. A very good way to spend a few hours. We very much enjoyed our stay.

My friend and I went here especially to get out of the rain. What a wonderful museum!! So many displays and artifacts!! Well worth seeing and well worth the price of $12.00 dollars.We spent a couple of hours in here. Very interesting!! Would recommend seeing this great museum!!

Great museum, very enjoyable exhibits including Alaskan native tribal culture, highlighting the differences and the similarilty between the numerous tribes. Also a very impressive exhibit on the three ship lost while trying to find the Northwest Passage by British explorer Sir John Frankin, including the HMS Terror.

I wasn't sure that I wanted to go to a museum but am very glad that we went. There is a lot of information and artifacts about the native Alaskans. Very interesting

We had a whole day in Anchorage and decided to visit this museum. It's a 4 storey building, with great information on science and the Alaskan culture. I would skip the planetarium, it was not very impressive and is very small. Overall nice place to spend few hours (2-3 hrs).

This museum is a gem! It is a great place to visit and learn about the are before and after Alaska became a state. So much information, but presented in such a way that it was not overwhelming. A must visit!

A wonderful presentation of Alaska. You start with indigenous groups, move to Russian and other early explorers, and then on to the US acquisition and statehood. A changing exhibit keeps the museum fresh.

I highly recommend spending the time and money to visit this museum.

It's well done and offers a lot of information about Alaska.

The team there is very nice and helpful.

Fantastic gift shop for gifts and memorabilia from Juneau.

We stopped in here in a raining afternoon and we're not disappointed. It's got something to keep all ages engaged.

We spent a few hours here one morning - it has a ton of information about the native tribes that inhabit(ed) Alaska and also traces Alaskan history. It was more information than I could absorb in a visit (I'm not a huge museum go-er, so I typically last about 1.5 hours in a museum). Well worth the visit

Loved Alaska State Museum. Nice, modern building within walking distance of downtown area. A little confusing when you first walk into the front doors, as you are met by a security guard that did not respond to greeting or question. The actual entrance to the museum part is to your left. Upon entering into the reception area of the museum I was met by 3 extremely friendly and helpful employees. The museum has a ton of areas for everyone's interests. I loved the World War II history part and the special exhibit called Mug Up. I had been to the Bristol Bay Historical Museum in Naknek, Alaska and they told me about this display and documentary. I found the cannery history enlightening and enjoyed seeing items, stories about cannery life. The documentary in the small theater was so well done and gives you an insight on operations, cannery life and community life in cannery towns.

Great museum with lots of variety and loads of history that you don't read about in the lower 48. Excellent collection of artifacts.

Relatively new museum, with more artifacts on display since the previously upgraded museum. Informative interactive displays, paying special interest to Alaska Native culture and historical developments over time.

We walked here from the cruise ship terminal after a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier. We had learned a bit from lectures on our ship about Alaska and this Museum brought it to life. I covered everything - the native peoples, Gold Rush, Russians, etc. Plenty to see, probably more than you will want to take the time for.

A great museum that takes you through the history of AK including natives and the claim by Russia through the sale to the US. The role of AK in history is explained from early people crossing the Straight and settling here, explorers visiting, early tribes, the fishing industry, the gold rush, and the role AK played in WWII. I felt the layout was challenging to follow, but overall, it was a great museum with lots of information (maybe too much to digest all in one trip). I think we spent just over 2 hours there and I could have easily spent 4+ hours there taking it all in. $15 admission fee was well worth the education of AK.

This is a huge place, like the State. It has wonderful exhibits from the earliest days with the various tribes, up to present day activities. Make sure you see the original Alaska state flag and the exhibits on Steward.

We only had an hour to explore this museum and really could have used twice that amount of time. This is a little away from the tourist trap area of Juneau - reason enough to visit! - and is well worth the visit. It provides a very good description through its exhibits of the indigenous and then European inhabitants of the southeast of Alaska and their histories. As we were about to embark on a cruise of the Inside Passage, it was an excellent introduction to the cultures we were about to witness and visit.

The State museum, recently built and installed a few years ago, is a gem, with a depth of explanation about the history, and is particularly strong on showcasing the range of native groups and highlighting the difficulties of the history. Good small section on the Russian colonization and the range of extractive industries. Good introduction to Alaska. Worth a visit of an hour or two.

By far a highlight in Juneau. It is broken up in different decades and areas of interest. Really learned a lot about the history of the state.

My wife and I are interested in the art and artefacts of the indigenous people of the north of the USA and Canada. We were in Juneau for a day from a cruise ship. I’m glad we decided to devote half a day to the Alaska state museum. It’s just a few minutes walk from the ship. They have a wealth of all sorts of indigenous clothing, tools, ceremonial gear and several boats. The way the exhibits and the information within them are presented is world-class. They give you a free interpretive tour. They also have a section devoted to mining and they had a dinosaur exhibition when we there. If you like museums, this one will delight you and the admission price is very reasonable.

We enjoyed our visit to this beautiful new museum. The displays are beautifully curated and explained. The Discovery Room for children is particularly nice — hands on activities in an environment where their enthusiasm won’t disturb people who want a reverent museum experience. Our grandchildren loved it.

This museum offers fascinating and well-organized exhibits on the complex history of Alaska. Do not miss the great explanation of the native cultures of Alaska by region, including fascinating artifacts and beautiful crafts. If you ever wondered how people could survive and thrive in the challenging environments of Alaska, this museum provides the answers. When we visited, the museum was not all all crowded. We spent 90 minutes, and could have easily doubled that time.

A wonderful way to spend a rainy day. This museum has a good set of galleries which review of the history of Alaska. I particularly enjoyed the first gallery on Native Alaska. There is also a kids area and well as a little cafe at the front. The museum store is small but also has nice items. The building is modern and lovely.

This is a small, but extremely well-made museum. It does have both the story to tell and the artifacts to tell it with. And the presentation/museography is very professionally done. It is something that is definitely worth an hour or two when in Juneau. The museum covers the entire history of Alaska, from settlement to Statehood or so. Not much in terms of ancient/archeological artifacts, but Native American art and craft are well-presented, and in a way that simultaneously explains their history and ethnic divisions. The Russian period does not get much, but the presentation is tasteful and some fascinating objects are on view (the "uniform" of the Russian-appointed Tlingit leader was a highlight to me), And the territorial history (including WWII) gets its due. No trip to Alaska is complete without this wonderful little place. And my nine-year-old agrees!

But they should get their act together and produce a decent catalog!

The Alaska State Museum launched me to a more intellectual adventure. My mind was transported back thousands of years, and walked through Alaskan heritage and history from the first North Americans to modern day artists and pop culture. This was the best Native American, or First Peoples, exhibit that I have ever seen. Being that the museum has been opened less than two years, it is understandable how a new approach to arranging, describing, and displaying history in a new and effective way. From the tools and boats to early seafaring, to the arrival of Europeans and Russians, to the economy and society of the Tlingit and other native tribes, I was hanging onto every display and plaque to learn more eagerly. This museum engaged me in a way that many have not, and I think everyone who visits Juneau should save a few hours to learn more about Alaskan and in doing so, American history.

Adults will love all the unique pieces tied into this amazing State. Kids will love the children section which has an old school Alaskan themed arcade game.

I love looking at all the treasures at the State Museum. I never get tired of visiting. I had been there several times before I realized what I thought was a fur coat, was actually made from bird skins. I love looking at all the Native Alaskan cultural treasures.

Good descriptions of more modern Alaskan history, the gold rush, mining, logging, wars, etc. I would have liked to have seen more about the distant past, how the first Alaskans might have got there and when. Also the discussion of climate warming/melting is obviously made politically neutral, but doesn't get into the huge and obvious effects of climate change on the area as it should.

We actually visited this museum at the end of our Alaska trip and I wish we had done it at the beginning. You get such a sense of the people and landscape. Very well done and interactive!

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!

If you enjoy earning about native peoples and the history of a region, this museum is a must see. It is very well laid out and the displays are first rate. There are items for children of all ages.

Altho this excellent museum concentrates on the history, geography, wildlife, and Native cultures of Southeastern Alaska, it also displays information about the other regions of Alaska. Very good displays!

Our visit to the AK State Museum was the second part of our ship's Juneau excursion. My wife and I spent over 1.5 hours viewing the exhibits, which not only included learning about the native people, but also how Alaska was settled by the Russians than the Americans. I did like the section which discussed how Alaska was purchased from the Tsar, and about how Alaska became a state.

It was a rainy day in Juneau so we decided to go into this museum and kill some time.
The museum building is very new and modern compared with other buildings in town. It is mainly split into two sections: natural history and World War Two period. I was particularly interested in the Russian Alaska and American Alaska period and this place offered a lot of information and historical items to browse through.

the museum was very well laid out. so much information and very easy to follow. especially liked the mask display

The museum has a free parking garage under the museum. The admission fee covers all exhibits. If you go on the first Friday of the month, admission is free. The museum is on the first floor. There is a library and archives on a higher floor. The exhibits give excellent coverage of the history, wildlife, and geology of Alaska. There is a gift shop.

This was great. The museum covers the history and culture of Alaska. It was informative and very well done. We spent almost 2 hours. There was a ton of information. Highly recommended. It is walkable from where cruise ships dock.

The turbulent story of Alaska's history is told, with artifacts, stories, and photos. There is even a section on AK becoming a state,
; the code talker medals from WWII; and a unique art gallery.
We learned a lot.

Many professionals exhibits providing a detailed explanation of various facets of Alaskan history. Highly recommend.

Great museum with a large variety of displays. There is of course, much about Alaskan history and the peoples in different points of time. There is info on the period when Russia owned Alaska, about 100 years, ending in 1867. An entire room tells the story of a grounded ship. Very sad. Modern exhibits, too. Worth it.

Loved this museum! Beautifully laid out and with a wealth of artefacts depicting early Alaskan history. Also loved the section devoted to current creative artworks by native Alaskans

Some fabulous native tribe clothes and utensils. Hard to beat. Spent half hour here. Then room of history of gutting Alaska (my take) resources, oil, whatever was a walk through for me. Exxon Valdez soured me... Then 2 rooms of contemporary/ native art. Alas one room is a temp exhibit. Totally worth starting here and then walk back thru town for shopping if that is your thing.
The only better museum for native items is Sheldon Jackson Museum in Sitka, if you are going there.

one of the best museums I've been to. It was newly rebuilt from a different location than the original.

A great museum with lots of things to see. My wife and I were on our own walking tour of Juneau and decided to visit this museum.... well worth our time. A variety of exhibits that tells about the area, the people, Alaska and it’s rich history.... very enjoyable. We spent several hours there and learned so much....a must see. No charge.

We spent about three hours here learning about the history of Alaska. Beautiful exhibits and very well done signage and descriptions. Beautifully maintained facility.

Overall a very good museum, and as expected, it was a bit dry for our teenagers. They did have a really cool interactive (2-person) video game that mollified them, however. Also, you can create your own art (fun - I put mine on the wall!). The SS Princess Sophia exhibit was an unexpected finding. Great (sad) story, illustrates that (a) hubris is bad, and (b) if in doubt, nature will win. Worth a quick hour or so if you have the time.

The combined archives and museum offer a great opportunity to learn more about Alaskan history. The archive staff will be happy to share historic documents (like the check paying for the purchase of Alaska!) or old maps and newspapers. There is a beautiful glass mural dividing the library from the archive area. The museum has a great collection of historic artifacts. There s a coffee shop on the first floor.

We had some time to kill so we decided to visit the museum. Great place to visit with many artifacts from local tribes. Found the story off the SS Sophia very interesting and had never heard of this shipwreck.

Spent a couple of hours here on a cruise ship stop. Lots of stuff to see and learn here from first nations to present day. Some good exhibits. Admission a bit pricey but hey ho.

This fairly new museum is accessible to the casually interested person and has lots of detail for those looking for more meat. AK is such a vast state not everything can be covered on one place, but this museum does a great job of covering the most prominent parts of this great state.

The Alaska State Museum is a gem and the best excursion in town. Twelve dollars for adults will get you in to spend as little or as much time as you want. The museum is a walkable distance from the ship and filled with great exhibits, information and history of the area. While only 2 years old, they are expanding the museum as they have many artifacts that are not yet on display. Employees are friendly and happy to answer any and all questions of the public. Lots of places to sit around the museum to take a break from the day.

I learned a lot about Alaska in the couple of hours I spent here. The exhibits on indigenous cultures and ere excellent (though I would have appreciated individual display items being numbered).

The decimation caused by industrial and colonial practices are addressed squarely, but without (often deserved) blame.

This well laid out museum was really a treasure and even though we were quite tired when we visited we did most of it in about 2 hours. Well laid out exhibits tell the cultural, military, and political history of the state. Our only complaint was that we got inconsistent information about whether or not the museum was open on Sunday from various guidebooks and other sources. Centrally located.

This is a very well done museum on both the culture and history of this wonderful land. Do spend some time watching the video screens in the entry way about AK and its size, population, tribal areas, etc. This is one Giant state!

Our first stop on a 10 night cruise provided a great introduction to all things Alaska. Uncrowded on a Sunday afternoon and just a 15 minute walk from the AS dock. Didn’t see a snack bar or gift shop.

Some interesting things to see if you find yourself in the neighborhood. Not sure I'd go to a lot of trouble to find it.

If you are interested in the history of alaska its native peoples and the history of it’s history since interacting with Europeans and the Japanese in the 1700s. Who knew right. If you have a few hours this is a great place to spend it. It is very very well done

Such a neat experience and variety of culture and history. Can't beat free admission! Offers great admission pricing for standard tickets, children, seniors, and military. So much to learn. Hours vary upon the websites you look up, but they definitely close at 4p. Excellent show of Alaska statehood history.

Lots of great artifacts on Alaskan history, including native articles. The museum is in a beautiful new facility. I especially enjoyed the World War II exhibit. They even offer free admission for military.

Wow! Phenomenal!!! Gorgeous artifacts from pre-colonial eras to the present, documenting the cultural evolution of Alaska. Everything was great, but in particular the basketry and clothing from many distinct tribes reflects exquisite craftsmanship, reflecting the different living conditions and food sources of the different geographic areas of Alaska. The artifacts and education about the cannery era and the roles of different immigrant ethnicities were eye opening. Spend three or more hours here.

We came here because it was raining, and our Juneau sightseeing options were limited — little did we know that we would love this museum. We were not sorry one bit for coming here, and, if anything, we are thankful that it did happen to rain, so that we came here at all. The museum is chock full of wonderful and wonderfully curated exhibits that trace the history of Alaska, its people and its wildlife. They have many real artifacts, as well as smartly done multimedia bits, including an online “mission” that takes you through the museum and is perfect for children. We came here at the end of our stay in Alaska, and it was the perfect capstone to our trip.

Quite interesting , more than I thought it would be. So many stories of early Alaskan settlers. Displays and descriptions made me want more and more. Only thing I didn't care for was prehistoric part, but i'm sure children would love it.

Super cool place . Very interactive , fill up with lots of very interesting pieces of history . Museum
It self has souvenir ink stamp , for all of those that collect them . Exhibitions are truly beautiful . I think ticket is maybe 14 or 17$ I can’t remember , but so worth it .

We decided to do some more of the local things whilst in Juneau. We spent almost 3 hours in there just learning about the culture of the area, They have a very unique collection of indigenous artefacts that I have seen.
I would recommend anyone who is going for a day to see the local surroundings rather than the hyped tourist areas.

I didn't expect much and was pleasantly surprised that the Alaska State Museum is on a Smithsonian level. The displays are excellent, and the museum is an absolute gem. We went to Juneau on a cruise ship and walked here easily from the pier. I highly recommend giving it a visit.

A great place to head to on a rainy day in Juneau. We spent sometime here exploring the state's history and it gave us a feel of the different regions in Alaska and the state's history

It’s definitely an eye opener visit. We learned a lot from this visit. Highly recommended! Great place for first time visitors.

Great museum. The museum has a great flow, all on one floor. Excellent native history section. We also learned a ton about more recent history after WW2. Highly recommend.

The Alaska State Museum was well worth a visit because it provides an overview of state history and native culture in an engaging way. The building itself is cool, too.

What an amazing gateway into the history of this beautiful area. The collection that is shown here is put together so well. The museum takes you through the different time periods and does a phenomenal job in displaying all these treasures. Its a must go too if you are in the area.

From pre-history to modern times the museum provides an excellent and thorough view of this great state. We particularly enjoyed the sections on native culture, Russian occupation, and WW2.

Spending 2-3 hours at the fantastic musium is a must. Just the right amount of display and detail, along with tour guides makes if worth while.

Wow! This place is so full of interesting displays and priceless artifacts. And the staff, especially Emily Carrillo, was fantastically helpful, friendly, and courteous. I highly recommend spending a few hours here learning about Alaskan history and culture.

New beautiful building and big collection of artefacts. The primitive art of local tribes is impressive.

This museum is a little off the beaten tourist path if you’re arriving by cruise ship. Our ship only mentioned the closer Juneau city museum, which we didn’t visit. We’re sure that one is fine too, but we really enjoyed the state museum. It has something for everyone and covers a lot of ground in Alaska’s history - the fur trade, Russian ownership, the U.S. purchase, shipwrecks, the gold rush, and a very large amount of native American artifacts. If you like museums, this one won’t disappoint.

Very, very interesting. I learned a lot and could go at my own speed. If your interested in learning about the Alaskan way of life in the early days, this is the place!

What an amazing museum. Well organized, amazing displays and we learned a lot about the history of the people of Alaska. I know there is a lot to tempt you on the outside in Juneau but spend a few hours inside here. We were there about 3 hours. Only regret is no gift shop. Maybe after covid. We were staying at the Baranoff and was an easy walk for us (63+) even in the rain

The Alaska State Museum is absolutely packed with artifacts that help tell the story of Alaska's past. A visitor needs to be on the lookout for exhibits both overhead as well as underfoot! Explanations of each exhibit are clear and helpful. This is a must-see in Juneau.

We thought the museum was excellent. It provided a good start to learning more about Alaska in preparation for our inside passage cruise. Great gift shop, too!

Nice museum with lots of information and artifacts and displays. There is so much information it is hard to take it all in. It is an amazing history lesson of Alaska and the Native Americans. It is in a building with the Library and a cafe so it's not marked as just a museum. It's an easy walk downtown. The only disappointment was that the gift shop is not open presently due to staffing issues. Definitely worth a few hours of your day.

The artifacts are marvelous and the building is beautiful. The legends in the displays telling you about individual items are not well-organized. That is disappointing and can be frustrating. It's not always clear what the organizing principle is--is there a chronological story? Story of specific cultures? Or it is similar types of objects from different time periods and different cultures?

This museum is relatively new, and very well done. The natives were consulted and had a lot of input to the displays about historical life in Alaska. They have a very nice gift shop, too.

We had extra time while waiting to go to he airport in Juneau so we decided to go explore downtown. We are glad we had time to experience the Alaska State Museum. We don't normally take the time to visit museums but this was a good experience for us. Another positive is that it didn't cost an arm and a leg, so we didn't feel like we wasted our money by only taking a little over an hour to walk through.

The Alaska State Museum visit was one of my best experiences in a museum.

The museum has Science on a Sphere®, or “SOS.” This is a display system that uses
computers, video projectors, and a six foot diameter sphere to create an animated globe.

The museum staff stopped to demo SOS for us. We could see when Hurricane Florence started and watch it's progress across the water and over the states.

The exhibits are great. We were able to take time and quietly learn and experience the museum.

I loved that this museum told the history of Alaska from the perspective of the colonized, rather than the colonizer. This is an important museum that taught me so much about the rich Alaska Native history and culture.

Interesting museum. Displays were well organized, following a time line through the history of Alaska.

We visited the State Museum in mid-September. The collection of coastal Alaska Native American art and artifacts is absolutely spectacular! If visitors only do one thing in Juneau, it should be this beautiful museum with its wonderful collection. The story of the development of the State is presented with clarity, balance, and drama and the artifacts representing Native heritage are stunning. Kudos to the curators for an educational and beautifully displayed museum. Absolutely worth a journey!

A museum illustrating the Tlingit culture and history and the Russian influence on the communities. It can be found slightly out of the town centre. Quite interesting artefacts -clothes, tools, boats, weaving bone/ivory carved items etc.

Free lockers provided for bags, coats etc and a small art gallery attached.

Cost was $11 each.

Went here to see the history of Alaska as the first stop on a cruise. We were not disappointed. The interactive displays and artifacts were well presented and not boring.

This is an excellent museum, thoughtfully planned in a great building. Some wonderful exhibits and a lot of information to learn about the indigenous people and their way of life and the Russian history which I knew nothing about. A must see whilst in Juneau to understand Alaska. Very helpful staff too.

Interesting visit and informative, some of the guides on hand to answer questions are first nation and gave interesting respinses when we asked about certain aspects of the museum and local history. A much better way to spend time than the Lumberjack show down the road. Learning about the area and its indiginous people their lifestyle and crafts and the effects of mining and fishing.

Like many travelers I have visited numerous museum around the country and world - this is in the top 5 for sure. The building is beautiful and the collections curated in a clear, chronological, creative fashion. Kids will not be bored here and adults completely engaged!

Plan to spend an hour or more in this organized display of Alaskan history and natural wonder, The museum is a brisk walk from the cruise ship docks and well worth a visit.

I should have expected it , but the Alaska State Museum has a fantastic "Alaska Gallery". Unbelieveably interesting artifacts that are beautifully displayed. Very helpful staff.

My wife and I spent a half-day enjoying the very nice museum. We were especially impressed by the square footage and obvious care dedicated to native Alaskans, their history and culture. Stories presented also included the Russian era, US acquisition and territory status, mining, WWII, statehood, oil, canneries, etc. The exhibits were uniformly professional in their quality.

This museum really covered a lot of history. There was a children's section which was just great for little one.

I'm not usually a huge museum fan, but I spent an entire morning walking around this one. They had an impressive display of exhibits, showing the evolution of Alaska and Alaskan traditions through time.

Definitely one of the best ones I've been to.

Within walking distance of cruise docks we checked this out upon arrival and it had something for everyone. Kids would have liked a little more interactive but there was enough to keep their interest. They particularly loved the large glass display of all the Alaskan animals at the end and the globe display. Well done museum overall and reasonable entry.

This was included as part of our John Hall's Alaska land tour. Senior pricing was available. A weekly children's program was available for the locals. A very complete museum including a planetarium for an additional charge.

This is a beautiful, modern museum with various exhibits around many aspects of Alaska history - native populations, gold strikes, maritime disasters, WWII, etc.

Don’t miss this well-designed museum! Displays on the indigenous culture and the history of Alaska are excellent. It is not that large a museum, and an hour is more than enough. Photos are allowed and there are free lockers available.

Right now (mid-July), guests have to mask up in public buildings, so be prepared.

When visiting Juneau, be sure to visit the Alaska State Libraries, Archives & Museum. After a brief introduction to the site, you have the rest of your time to pursue Alaskan history from prehistoric to statehood through fascinating exhibits.

The photos give you an idea of your visit.

This is a museum to be proud of. Great timeline of Alaskan history and relevant exhibits. As a museum guide myself I found this museum fascinating and engrossing. Very engaging. Easy to spend two or three hours here. They have done a splendid job with this museum.

A great museum for people of all ages. It has a nice collection of archaeological exhibits, as well as art and other special things.

I've been to a lot of museums throughout the U.S., and this one holds up very well. It's moderately priced to get in ($7 per person), and it's packed with stuff that is interesting, including original artifacts. If you're going to be in Juneau, this is an absolute must-stop.

The history of Alaska is rich and this museum takes you through this chronologically dating back to 14,000 years in the with mammoth remains all the way through modern Alaska... A must see in Juneau

We were very impressed by our visit to the Alaska State Museum. It is a beautiful museum and full of cleverly arranged exhibits mixing media, new and old artwork/items and presentations. We learned a lot about Alaskan history and also enjoyed the cruisin the fossil coastline exhibit.

Great place to gain insight into the history of Alaska and its importance to the world with its natural resources and beauty. Combine a visit here with the nearby Juneau-Douglas City Museum. Two excellent experience for the entire family.

They have a lot of very interesting exhibits. lots of native and gold rush history, including a lot more showing the diffeentiation between the various clans. This is a great rainy-day activity when in Juneau.

We spent more time here than I thought we would. There is a ton of information, and I like to stop and read most of it. Most people will go through much faster. They have so many artifacts from native alaskan people and did a great job explaining the significance of different objects to different groups across the state. We learned a lot about russian occupation that we didn't know, and Alaska's road to statehood.

It amazed me that on a day with 4 cruise ships, we had this place with just a few other people! What a joy! This is an amazing place. So many, many artifacts and so well arranged for comprehension. We planned on an hour but were there for two because it was so interesting. And we could spend a couple more some day down the road. It really is #1 in Juneau!

Especially great if it rains out, but if you have spare time, go there. It's small, but well stocked and presented. Make sure to pull out drawers underneath display cases for more artifacts.

This is a fairly new museum that does an excellent job of detailing the history of Alaska from indigenous people to Russian occupation through to the US acquisition and development. There was a special exhibit of a tragic steamship sinking that was also very well done. The gift shop has very nice options and the entry cost is reasonable ($11 for summer seniors). We are not big shoppers and so this was a great way to spend a couple of hours in Juneau off our cruise ship. I can't think of a better way to see AK artifacts and gain an exhaustive amount of information on our 49th state in a short amount of time. Even my guy, who resists visiting museums, was very impressed by this site.

This museum was not here the last time we were in Juneau. We normally use museum's as a filler as we like to do a lot of hiking. This was absolutely excellent and when we return to Juneau we will return here and spend more time.

Just went through a renovation and very well done. It was a wonderful diversion from the tourist attractions in Juneau.

This museum is one of the best we’ve seen. Incredible exhibits with very interesting stories and facts to read.

Nice little museum about Alaska, We spent a couple hours and learned a lot about the state and it’s history.

We popped in to see this place. It is VERY small but informative. Do it. And check out the store next to it where you can purchase some native art at very reasonable prices.

The Alaska State Museum was one of the delights of our Alaska cruise. The time in Juneau was short and started very early so options felt limited to those offered by the cruise ship. I feel lucky that the museum was so prominent on the map when we considered just walking around and determined we would begin our day there after breakfast (if only we had known about the cafe...) Ultimately, we spent 75% of our shore time in the museum and it was not enough. This small space has a lot of information and presented things we'd heard in other parts of the cruise trip with a lot more context and detail--Not just "stuff from Klondike gold rush" but how that event fit into the rest of the region's history and culture. This museum was a delight and I strongly recommend supporting it if you have a few hours in Juneau off of your cruise ship and are not rushing to get the next free charm for your bracelet. It is a hop, skip, and a jump from the cruise terminal.

This is a very well-done museum in a beautiful building. There is a very large collection of Native American artifacts, as well as exhibits on Russian Alaska and the forgotten battles of World War II. The layout of the museum makes it easy to navigate. This was a great escape from the touristy port attractions.

Lots of interesting facts and artifacts from Alaska history. The exhibit on the "Princess Sofia - the Titanic of the North" was great!

Very friendly staff offering insight and a one story offering of native artifiacts and early settlers who braved the environment in search of gold. A famous boat disaster also featured.

This museum building is new and gorgeous. Beautiful displays make learning about Alaska's fascinating history and cultures a rewarding experience. When I was there, I was particularly impressed with the display of contemporary art by native artists. This is definitely a museum worth and hour (or two). It is also just a short walk from old Juneau and lots of shops, bars and restaurants.

I enjoyed a couple of hours in this well-designed museum, which gave a detailed insight into the different eras of human presence in Alaska, from the culture and values of the original indigenous peoples, through to the lengthy Russian occupation and more recent American history (including Japanese presence in WW2).
I found the layout of the museum to be easy to follow, with exhibits thoroughly described and interspersed with some additional interactive computer based features.
Throughout the museum was the sense of struggle for survival in what was essentially a fairly inhospitable landscape and environment.

This quiet little museum is a great place to get a little insight into Alaska's area and history. The building is right next to the river walk that takes you downtown.

So much to see here. Allow 2-3 hours. The museum hosted a Ray Troll exhibit, 'Crusin' the Fossil Highway', which was a delight. Several complete kayaks showing the different designs. Good balance of native and white influence and artifacts. Covered some atrocities inflicted by whites on the natives. A great intro to the state, "Alaska 101", for those from outside.

This is a beautiful, well kept museum. We were able to learn a lot about the history of Alaska, including a lot of information and displays about the indigenous people of the area. There are many items on display that help you learn about indigenous cultures. We especially enjoyed the special exhibit on the robes which were stunning. Before visiting the museum I didn't know that Alaska had been attacked during World War II, and of course the treatment of the indigenous people during that time and throughout Alaska's history has been shameful. It's hard to learn about, but necessary that we do.

The museum was initially not high on my list of activities that I wanted to do when I visited Juneau, but I was extremely glad that I went here. There is an amazing collection of beautifully displayed Tlingit and Haida artifacts, both modern and dating back to before the little Ice Age. Other exhibits traced the Russian and American presence in Alaska. It helped to put an historical context to the sites and adventures that we were about to experience. It was a perfect rainy afternoon activity before we met for our cruise. There is a coffee shop and restaurant. I recommended it highly to our traveling companions, and they also gave it a high grade.

Standard, normal museum, lot of artifacts, nothing out of the ordinary. Interesting introduction to Alaska, but nothing special.

Excellent displays of true historical artifacts along side with more modern contemporary art. Gave good history of the area along with the story of the Sophia ship that sank not to many years after the Titanic sank. A must visit.

A quick tour of Alaska history and culture. Best parts were how Native Alaskans made kayaks and then hunted whales from them, and WWII in Alaska. Also a section on shipwrecks.

This was a fantastic experience. We had to kill some time after getting off of our Uncruise before we could check into our hotel and are so glad we decided to see the museum. We spent over 2 hours and I don't think we saw it all. It's very well organized and informative. DO NOT miss this place when visiting Juneau. The admission price is worth every penny, in fact know what it is now, I would pay way more!!

One of the best smaller museums we've been to. Excellent displays with fascinating items. Very good introduction to Native Alaskan groups, as well as history of non-native arrival and influence. Well worth an hour or two, plus the price of admission. Convenient free parking in garage beneath building.

An absolutely wonderful museum!! We only had an hour because this was part of a tour, and we could have easily spent another 1-2 hours there! So much history packed into this museum, so don't let the plain exterior fool you. The extent to which Alaska's native children were torn from their families to become "assimilated" was horrible!

This is a well laid out museum that covers the breadth of Alaska’s history. In 1-2 hours, we got a great overview of this beautiful state.

My husband and I both enjoyed our visit to the Alaska State Museum in Juneau while visiting by cruise ship The museum is 10000 square feet and covers all of Alaska history including its part in World War 2 This Museum is new and definitely worth a visit

Interesting exhibits and very good gift shop. Well done history of Alaska, plus a small dinosaur exhibit. $12 admission ($11 seniors.)

The Alaska State Museum is a great activity for a rainy day. You need about 90 minutes to check out all of the exhibits but you can easily spend more time if you watch all the videos and read all of the artifact descriptions. Bring your camera as there will be many opportunities for great photos. I was particularly impressed with the exhibits related to World War II. I was not aware of the involvement of Alaska in the war prior to attending the museum so I definitely learned something new. The artwork, both traditional and modern, was quite impressive as well. I visited the museum while my cruise ship was docked at the farthest dock from the museum. I was still able to walk to the museum without a problem but it did take about 30 minutes for the journey. As it often rains in Juneau, I highly recommend this museum as an alternative to outdoor activities on rainy days. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the museum.

No pun intended there - Juneau was the start of our Alaska trip, and we stumbled into the museum on a rainy day. We were late, with only 45 minutes left in their day, but we got in for half price. It's gorgeous and sweeping and well-signed and features high-value, high-interest content. I'll make more time to visit the next time we're there. My favorite thing was the final doorway through which you see hundreds of mammals and birds and fish in glass (taxidermy? figurines? not sure)

This was a very nicely displayed and well thought out look at Alaskan culture and history. Displays were carefully planned and the themes easy to understand. Their history sections on the Alaskan Gold Rush and World War II in the Aleutian Islands were particularly useful. Beautiful building and easy to walk through (my wife is disabled).

This is an incredible museum, packed full of artefacts and information. We learned so much about the history and geography of Alaska and only just scratched the surface of the exhibits. If we lived locally we would be there on a regular basis. The museum and all the people who worked to curate the exhibits should be very proud.

You can easily walk here from the cruise ships, if that is how you have arrived in Juneau. The museum has recently been re-done and it is excellent. A good overview of Alaskan history with everything from the 5,450 year old Thorne River basket through the Second World War. You could race through the museum or take your time and enjoy all the exhibits.

We very much enjoyed visiting the State Museum. Nominal entry fee. Beautiful exhibits and great historical prospective. A must see if you want to learn about Alaskan culture and history. I only wish the museum was bigger.

We spent two hours at the museum, Fascinating exhibits.
We traveled with my two grandsons, age 13 and 18.
They loved it!

a beautiful museum inside and out. an education on the cultural history with some outstanding art. i did not know and was especially moved by the exhibit on the interment on alaska natives during ww ll

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.

Really excellent museum with a lot of interesting ethnographic information about the indigenous population of Alaska and a fair amount of info on both the Russian and American influence and history in Alaska. Should take an hour or two to visit.

My wife and I visited around 11am. It was a nice walk from the cruise ship to the museum, and back. It was a beautiful day too. There was plenty to see. And quite interesting for us. Native Alaska, Russian Alaska, and American Alaska, were my favorites. There was some very cool artwork in the changing exhibits area. I found there was enough reading for my liking. Too much to read and I am off to the next exhibit. I really enjoyed this museum. And I would visit again. Senior rate was $13.

We arrived just before the threatening rainstorm and entered after enjoying a coffee from the shop that shares the building. The museum is well laid out with the progression of history leading you to the present. There is a lot of information and a variety of items to keep you interested and busy. I really liked the available lockers that allowed us to store a backpack and jackets which made it easier to enjoy the museum. We spent a couple hours enjoying the museum and finished a little while after the rainstorm.

We enjoyed 2 hours walking around this museum that displays the Alaska history and artifacts. It is definitely worth a visit although it is small but items are nicely displayed!

This museum has some nice features for young kids including a play ship and a globe exhibit which provides different views of the world. The architecture is beautiful and modern as well. A great 2 hour visit, but better in the morning before the kids get too tired.

Someone has done a great job putting together exhibits and curating materials in this pleasant museum, one of the best I’ve seen in Alaska! Enjoyed the Princess Sophia exhibit, movie and artifacts and was shocked at how the disaster unfolded which was well presented with movie sequences that put the story together. This disaster was called the Titanic of the North West and was and still is the largest maritime loss of life in the N W Pacific - it will be honored at an hundred year anniversary this year.

Alaska should be proud of their state of the art museum . The design and information is presented in a beautiful format. Amazing how much is provided in such easy flow space. Fortunate for us we were able to see the special art exhibit! We have Grand children that would have enjoyed the children's space and art experience. Hope to be back and would appreciated a second look. Do not miss!

This is a wonderfully curated museum with a smooth flow. You move through time... and state history... as you walk past the exhibits. Excellent exhibits. I especially enjoyed the section about the Gold Rush and mining. Juneau is lucky to have a museum of this caliber! Nice gift shop and coffee shop, too.

I was an anthropologist and the Alaskan native history is so beautifully told it is hard to describe.

This is a very informative and well-run museum. Apparently, 2 outside companies came in and told the state how the museum should be arranged, and they were both fired! The locals figured it oyu for themselves, and did a darn good job. There are a lot of items on display, but they fit together well. The museum covers native culture, Alaska as a Russian territiory, as a US territory, and as a state. See it!

We were so privileged to have Teresa and Brian as our guides. Both have family histories connected to the museum and have made contributions to the items on display.

This museum presents a great opportunity for visitors to explore Alaska's history, from pre historic Alaska Native tribes to becoming the 49th state. There are also extensive exhibits about Alaska's four major industries- fishing, mining, forestry, and tourism. There is an extensive array of authentic artifacts on display throughout the museum. The museum is separated into historical periods. This attraction is an excellent opportunity to learn about Alaskan people and culture.

A nice and well-displayed museum about Alaska's recent and not-so-recent history. A fairly large portion of the floorspace was allocated to the cannery operations which we found a little boring (as opposed to the native and WWII displays) but respect the significance of its influence to the growth of the city. Would not travel to Juneau just for this but while there a worthwhile visit.

We arrived here like everyone else--on a ship. But instead of just shopping or looking for wildlife, I decided to get some culture. Really glad I did, because other than some patronizing indoctrination about the oppression and exploitation of the Native Alaskans, I enjoyed everthing about this museum. The artifacts were all first-rate. I do wish they numbered them rather than just using icons to identify the descriptions. Well worth the two hours I put in and fairly priced at $12.

Enjoyable, informative and never felt crowded. I was in the museum when a large group came in on a tour. The museum never felt crowded. It was great to see people of all ages enjoying the museum. This is a place that one could come back to several times and learn something new each time about Alaska. I had visited the museum a number of years ago - they have recently remodeled and it is a vast improvement! Excellent & thoughtful layout of exhibits.

I had a great time spent 3 1/2 hours there just couldn’t get enough of all the history of Alaska and the surrounding area what a treat to have a museum so close in Juneau!

Caught a guided tour of this museum and thought the knowledge of the guide was outstanding. A much better experience of the history of the land than if I was wandering around myself. Great museum. Very well done.

wonderful place which features ..many displays on aalska past and present..which are thoguhtfully done.

Nicely done and apparently newly opened museum. Very informational and easy to follow. I enjoyed the Native American section at the beginning and the art displays at the end the best.

This museum had very interesting things to see. Lots of history about the people and their clothing....