University of Alaska Museum of the North

University of Alaska Museum of the North. It is the premier research and educational museum in the state, located on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The museum serves as a major repository for natural and cultural heritage specimens from across Alaska and the Circumpolar North. Its mission encompasses collection stewardship, public education, and scholarly research related to the Arctic region.

History

The institution was founded in 1929, initially operating from a single room in Old University Hall on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus under the guidance of early proponents like Charles E. Bunnell. Its collections grew significantly following the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which spurred archaeological and ethnographic research. Key figures in its development include ornithologist and curator Lawrence J. Palmer and anthropologist Ivar Skarland. The museum gained accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 1975, affirming its professional standards. A major expansion occurred in 2005 with the opening of a new wing, dramatically increasing its exhibition and storage capacity.

Collections and exhibits

The museum houses over 2.5 million artifacts and specimens across several major collections. The Earth Sciences collection includes significant paleontological finds like the state fossil, the woolly mammoth, and specimens from the Prince Creek Formation. The Archaeology and Ethnology collections document over 11,000 years of human history in Alaska, featuring Iñupiat, Yup'ik, and Athabascan material culture. The Fine Arts collection focuses on Alaskan art from the 20th and 21st centuries, including works by Sylvia Grinnell and Kesler Woodward. Permanent exhibits include the Gallery of Alaska, which presents the state's diverse regions, and the iconic Blue Babe, a mummified steppe bison from the Ice Age.

Architecture

The museum's main building, known as the **Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery** and **The Place Where You Go to Listen**, is a distinctive architectural landmark designed by Joan Soranno of HGA Architects. Its sweeping, curvilinear form is intended to evoke the Alaska Range, aurora borealis, and ice floes. The structure features a unique silver-colored exterior and utilizes innovative materials to withstand the subarctic climate. A central atrium connects the original building with the 2005 expansion, which added state-of-the-art collection storage facilities. The interior includes the immersive sound and light environment, *The Place Where You Go to Listen*, created by composer John Luther Adams.

Research and programs

The museum is an active research institution, with curators and staff engaged in field studies across disciplines such as ornithology, archaeology, and genomics. Scientists like Kevin May and Diane Hanson conduct fieldwork from the North Slope to the Aleutian Islands. It manages important research initiatives, including the Alaska Frozen Tissue Collection and the Arctic Archival Observatory. Public programs include lectures, family days, and school tours that align with Alaska state educational standards. The museum also offers fellowships and collaborates with entities like the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Institution on various projects.

Governance and affiliations

The museum is an administrative unit of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which is part of the statewide University of Alaska system. It receives operational funding from the University of Alaska and the State of Alaska, alongside grants from organizations like the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Governance involves a director, currently paleontologist Patrick Druckenmiller, who reports to the UAF Chancellor. The museum maintains advisory boards and partnerships with Alaska Native communities and corporations, as well as with consortia such as the Council of American Overseas Research Centers.

Category:Museums in Alaska Category:University of Alaska Fairbanks Category:Natural history museums in the United States Category:Archaeological museums in Alaska Category:Buildings and structures in Fairbanks, Alaska