Alaska Native Heritage Center

 The Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage shares the heritage of Alaska's 11 major cultural groups.  The Gathering Place provides visitors an opportunity to experience demonstrations of Alaska Native dancing, Native Games, and traditional storytelling. The Hall of Cultures provides rotating exhibits, craft activities for the family, and craft and artwork created by Alaska Native artists. Outside, visitors can tour the village sites, consisting of six life-sized Native dwellings surrounding Lake Tiulana.

Moose hide Sweetheart Dance Boots

Snow goggles 1875

Shark mask

Three of the six different styles of homes built by the indigenous people of Alaska 

Home of indigenous people of SW Alaska

There would have been benches on all four walls. 

The higher your status, the further back in the lodge you would live

The back door is a convenience for the tourists 

What, the wall has gaps!

In the summer the gaps allow cool air to flow into the lodge.

In the wet winter the boards swell and close the gaps

The traditional entrance and exit

Whale Skeleton 

Benches would have been built around all the walls

The skylight was made from seal or walrus intestine 

The winter entrance was lower than the living area allowing

the cold air to sink, keeping their home warmer.

The raised food storage hut have been built 

away from the home as it would attract bears. 

The living space and the kitchen were not attached like this.

They would have been build several yards apart.  

The kitchen

Seward AK

 On the way to Seward we stopped in Palmer to check out the Muskox farm.  

Mother's and their calfs

Amy holding a skull, very heavy

This is a life size sculpture of the cabbage 127lb, beet 42.75lb, 

zucchini 29.65lb and carrot 18.99lb grown in the 

Matanuska Valley in 2009.

On the road to Seward

Camped by the Resurrection River

Exit Glacier 

We hiked out the vista point. 

Upon returning on the trail we had hiked out to the glacier on we 

discovered this fresh bear track. Notice that it is particularly 

covering human shoe prints. 

Valdez

 Valdez, Alaska, is a spectacular coastal port town surrounded by steep fjords, towering mountains, and massive glaciers. Founded in 1897 during the Klondike Gold Rush, it served as a gateway to Alaska's interior. After the devastating 1964 Good Friday earthquake and tsunami destroyed much of the original town, Valdez was relocated four miles west to its present-day site. Today, it is known for its breathtaking scenery, rich history, and abundant opportunities for outdoor adventure.

Bridal Veil falls

Interesting carvings around town

Valdez Museum

1886 fire engine

1907 superior fire engine with steam power

Indigenous raincoat made from 

bear intestine

Alutiiq Hunting Visor. This bentwood hunting visor was crafted in a traditional Alutiiq style. Men wore visors when hunting animals to honor the spirits and to give them luck.  The shape served the practical purpose of keeping the sun and rain off of one’s face, and helped to camouflage the hunter when crouched in his kayak. 

Typical trapper's cabin

Circa 1915 parlor

Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum 

The Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum is a hidden gem and home to one of the world's largest collections of Native Alaskan art, ivory carvings, and trophy-class taxidermy

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Indigenous kayak covered in walrus hide

Another wonderful day exploring our great country 

Alaska

We survived the pothole- and frost-heave-infested road from Snag Junction to Tok, Alaska! The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, but the drive demanded our full attention. Progress was slow as we carefully navigated the rough pavement, weaving around countless potholes and heaves. It was one of those days where the journey was as memorable as the destination.

Horsetail Falls

Can you find the person in the picture

On the way to Valdez we stopped 

and checked out Jesse's creations 

Bridal Veil Falls