Updated June 2022
Museum of the North
People travel to Alaska to see wildlife and the great outdoors. However, you should spend a couple of hours indoors are this great northern museum in Fairbanks.
Wildlife
Everyone wants to see a bear and other animals in the wild. The wildlife in the Museum of the North consists of stuffed animals, not live ones. However, it allows you to see animals up close that you will not see in the wild such as the Polar Bear, Walrus, Dall Sheep and Arctic Fox. There are also Arctic birds that you are unlikely to see in the wild such as Eider Ducks.
Extinct Arctic Wildlife
Even better than the polar and grizzly bears are the extinct animals on display. The best of these is a complete Step Bison. Several giant animals once roamed the Arctic, including the Step Bison, Sabre-tooth Lions (the Smilodon), Mammoth, Giant Beavers, and even camels.
Inuit Carvings
Another fascinating display is the collection of Inuit, Aleut, and Yupik people’s (formerly called Eskimos) carvings. These carvings are intricate and stunning works of art. There are also displays of Inuit clothing and other items.
Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
Another great museum in Fairbanks is the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum. One would not expect such a great collection of antique automobiles in Alaska, but it is there. It is even better than most car museums in the south. This massive collection of rare cars includes vehicles like the 1898 Hay pictured above.
Beautiful 1904 Rambler
1903 Cadillac
These photos are just a few of the enormous collection. Many of the vehicles also have mannequins beside them dressed in period clothing that ladies would have worn in these vehicles.
Summary
Of course, you will spend most of your time in Alaska in the great outdoors. That is why people go to Alaska. But it is worthwhile taking one day out to tour these two great museums in Fairbanks, Alaska.