I enjoy museums wherever we are, and the Museum of the North in Fairbanks takes a lot of the things I like about different types of museums and puts them all together in one place. It’s part Alaska history and Native Alaskan culture, part natural history and zoology and part art museum. It’s just big enough to cover a lot and small enough to not give you museum fatigue. Fairbanks’ Museum of the North is a great addition to a summer or winter trip and you might even learn something.
If you’re doing an Alaska road trip and ending in Fairbanks, the Museum of the North will be a great way to round out your trip as it’ll put everything you’ve seen in your week or maybe two week road trip into perspective. Read on and if you have any questions about the museum or other things to do in Fairbanks, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you put together a great Alaska trip.
Highlights of the Museum of the North
Museums aren’t everyone’s favorite thing to do when they travel, especially when you’re visiting such an outdoorsy destination like Fairbanks, but I think they’re very important. The Museum of the North really is all about giving context and backstory to everything that you see and encounter when you visit Alaska. It’s the marriage of natural history and modern day hiking and wildlife tourism. You’ll learn about the gold rush that brought so many up to Alaska, but then you also have incredible examples of Alaska Native art, tools and even amazing antique kayaks.
For me, my favorite part of the Museum of the North in Fairbanks is the Alaska art gallery. Pike’s Waterfront Lodge has an impressive collection of Alaskan art, but he Museum of the North takes the cake for its curation and presentation. Classic and modern art pieces come together in the galleries here to… forgive me… paint a picture of the Alaskan way of life, both in nature and in the lens of indigenous Alaskan cultures. Also, there are quite a few pieces that capture the spirit and story of Alaska dog mushing and racing. I enjoy the Museum of the North’s collection so much, and dare I say it, I think it rivals that of the Anchorage Museum (which is incredible).
Tips for the Museum of the North at University of Alaska Fairbanks
The Museum of the North is a 90 minute+ experience. If you’re not a museum fan, you might only take an hour, but I think the diversity of exhibits and galleries will keep nearly any audience interested for quite a while. I would plan for it to take 90 minutes so if you’re adding it to the end of your day, you’ll want to arrive by 4:00 pm. If you’re coming to the Museum of the North with kids, be sure to check out the scavenger hunt sheets. I love when museums do this because it’s basically a guide to move children through the exhibits while also turning it into a game. Kids have to actually take their time and read quite a bit to find the listed items or answers. And guess what: adults can do the scavenger hunts too.
Another thing to think about BEFORE you arrive at the Museum of the North is food/snacks. There isn’t a museum cafe or any snack options here, so you’ll need to take care of any hungry visitors before you get there. Lulu’s Bread & Bagels isn’t far from the museum so it’s a good, easy option nearby.
Visiting the Museum of the North with Kids
Visiting the Museum of the North with Kids: Visiting museums is kind of a learned skill, so young kids sometimes aren’t thrilled about it. That doesn’t mean that it’s a place to whip out the entertainment tablet or play videos for the kids with the volume up. It’s still a museum that’s all about learning and being immersed in the culture and coolness of Alaska. If you’ve got antsy kiddos when you visit the Museum of the North, just head up to the top floor. Here you’ll find a play area with tactile toys and children’s books, as well as seating for parents. It’s a good place to take a break from the exhibit galleries if anyone if feeling a little too energetic.
And don’t forget about the scavenger hunt type sheets I mentioned above. Really, little things like this help get kids engaged with museum exhibits. I think our kids were around 4 years old when they started to be into scavenger hunts when we’d travel.
Parking at University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum of the North
The Museum of the North is located on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. It’s about ten minutes or so from downtown, and is easy to get to. When you arrive, there is a large parking area behind the building with metered parking. The meter machines take credit cards and you pay by the hour in advance. I recommend paying for two hours so you can take your time.
Museum Operating Info
To complete your planning, here is all the information to plan and book your adventure.
- Operating Dates/Season: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, last admission is at 5:00 pm
- Tour office phone number: 907-474-7505
- Museum website: University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Museum address: 1962 Yukon Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775
Things to do in Fairbanks
I feel like when people talk about visiting Alaska, Fairbanks is a last thought, but it shouldn’t be. I love this city, it’s people, it’s dogsled culture and the beautiful nature all around it. Fairbanks is THE winter destination in Alaska with ample dark sky space to watch the Northern Lights and endless outdoor opportunities, whether you’re looking for a mellow snowy escape or hardcore Alaskan adventures. In summer, Fairbanks is a great home base for visiting the Arctic Circle, Denali National Park, spending days kayaking or fishing. It’s beautiful!
Ideas for Fairbanks activities:
Where to Stay in Fairbanks, Alaska
Keep in mind when you’re planning your trip to Fairbanks that it is not a large city. It’s the second largest in Alaska, but it’s not huge. Hotel options are limited and when it comes to booking a luxury hotel stay, that’s not really a thing here. There are nice hotels and really cool lodges and vacation rentals, but white glove luxe ain’t happening. We’ve stayed in all kinds of Fairbanks accommodations, so have solid recommendations (below). I like being based downtown if we have a diverse, busy itinerary, but staying outside of town up in the hills is such a treat, it’s worth planning a night or two away from the city.
You’ll find that the cost of lodging in Fairbanks ranges wildly from season to season. In the summer, standard hotel rooms are not likely available for under $250 per night, with the average being well over $300 per night. In the winter you can get some awesome hotel deals as low as $125 per night. Just keep this in mind as you’re planning your visit to Fairbanks or anywhere in Alaska.
Here are our hotel picks in Fairbanks:
I hope you’re interested in visiting the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I think it’s an excellent example of a museum that really tells the stories of an area, and I know you’ll love it too. If you have any questions about visiting museums in the area or Fairbanks in general please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to help with travel planning for an Alaska Trip!
