University of Alaska Museum of the North

We visited on a Friday in early July 2026. We were in town preparing for a Princess Cruisetour and we flew in a day early. We saw that this was a top activity to do in Fairbanks. The museum pricing was a bit tricky. There is a group rate but the rate doesn't differentiate between child and adult like regular tickets do. So you have to do the math. The museum itself was pretty nice and a good way to spend a couple hours. The museum was actually a bit smaller than I was expecting but still very well done. We started downstairs and worked our way upstairs. The downstairs was more natural history and upstairs was the art section. I did like the sounds/acoustic room. Overall for the price we paid, I think it was worth it. I think for something a bit similar, you could do the visitor center at the East side of town and that would've been a little more basic but also free. It was worth doing at least once. They also charge for parking here at the museum so make sure you pay at the kiosk outside in the parking lot.

We had an outstanding time at the Museum of the North and spent about two hours exploring all it has to offer. It is a fantastic blend of geology, geography, culture, and history. Our family loved seeing the fossils and getting a real sense of the size of the mastodon and mammoth displays. The taxidermy collection is also impressive, featuring polar bears, grizzly bears, sea lions, seals, birds, and more. It’s very family-friendly—there is a great family room where kids can explore and play with age-appropriate educational items. We also appreciated the various educational movies running throughout the exhibits, and we finished our visit at their very cute gift shop. Highly recommended for anyone visiting the area who loves a good museum.

If you have some time in Fairbanks, visit the Museum of the North, It is absolutely worth coming forth! You'll learn about Alaskan culture, wildlife and natural wonders, Come check it out before going asunder. The dinosaur fossils were frankly amazing, The exhibits make you wonder about when they were grazing. The Alaskan cultural exhibits were informative and inspiring, You will be able to learn while you're admiring. So come learn about the culture of the Alaskan state, It was truly informative and absolutely great!

We had a great experience with the kiddos. There's even a small play are for the kids to explore on their own. We learned a lot. There is a planetarium, but we didn't try that during this trip. The sound room was incredible🥰🤩. The different exhibits were strategically positioned in the best possible way, unfortunately I was caught on only at the end.

This museum has something for everyone: natural history, cultural history, science/technology, an art museum, a children's playroom, and an IMAX theater to see movies for an additional fee. We initially paid for wo hours of parking, but added to that later so we could see a movie. I especially enjoyed the quilt art on the top floor.

If Alaska were a college freshman and vomited all of it's self into a building, this would be a good representation of that. There isn't much of a grand layout... but rather one minute you're looking at gold, one minute animals, then crystals, then internment camp info, and then Dinosaurs...just no flow in exhibits... a lot of great items. I also take issue with them taking the "into the wild" bus from public domain and locking it in private storage until they raise the funds for an exhibit. It's like they are holding it ransom...

The Denali Mountain range view from the museum is spectacular. Hard to believe it's 150 miles away. We had a great time with the family in the museum and we will come back for the planetarium.

Such a wonderful and fascinating museum with a wide range of displays: photography, dinosaur fossils, cetacean skeletons, taxidermy displays of local wildlife, plenty of art, and Native cultural heritage. Don’t miss the chance to see some Ice Age mummies that still look pristine to this day.

Good, solid museum experience. Well worth the time to visit if you’re looking for a way to occupy ~2 hours and you like history and art. Staff were very friendly and professional for the most part - disinterested gift shop girl was a notable exception. Seemed annoyed at answering questions. Learned some cool stuff about Alaska, saw some interesting art, glad we went!

The views from up here are great! On the weekends, parking is free. Otherwise, pay at the box. Lots of info on paleontology, geology, and history of the settlement of Alaska. And an art gallery by Native artists. A nice gift shop, too. Wheelchairs are available and it is accessible. There is also a resident discount.