The Museum of the North, Alaska. Is It Worth It? (+Photos)

With a small collection of paintings and the majority of exhibits showcasing the “locals” and depicting the culture and old-day traditions of the Last Frontier, the University of Alaska Museum of the North may be the best museum in Fairbanks.

^{Last updated: November 18, 2025}

Alaska, The Museum of the North | Roads and Destinations — *The University of Alaska Museum of the North in photos*

Visiting the Museum of the North

The Fairbanks Ice Museum. The Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum. The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. The Pioneer Museum. For an outdoor focused travel family, we saw more than our share of museums in Fairbanks. The idea of skipping the Museum of the North tempted us, and we were so close to giving in to it. But the weather dictated a different itinerary.

Between miles-long hikes in the freezing temperatures and warm sessions exploring the interior and abundant artifacts of the museums, the latter couldn’t be more welcomed.

To give deserved justice to where it belongs, Fairbanks’s educational centers were indeed intriguing. Not once did we feel like rushing outside (except for the Aurora Ice Museum, but it was for completely different reasons) or that we wasted our time. Each and every experience was special. The Museum of the North stood out not only because of its location – the University of Alaska campus – but also its expansive collection of artifacts and interactive exhibits.

Location, History, and Collections

Address: 1962 Yukon Drive, Fairbanks, AK

Located roughly 6 miles west of Fairbanks city center, the Museum of the North has been an integral part of the University of Alaska since 1917. Its earlier collection was meager. It consisted primarily of artifacts collected by local naturalist Otto Geist.

The Museum of the North offered its first exhibit in 1929. The collection was the direct result of the dedication and effort of Otto Geist to uncover, collect, and preserve ethnographic, archaeological, and paleontological relics. Each item showcased the different facets of beautiful, but unforgiving Alaska. By this time, the university acquired a small collection of paintings that was also presented at the museum.

The Museum of the North collections continued to grow through different sources. Some exhibits still came from field acquisition. Others found their new home inside the university’s museum through donations and transfer of collections from other institutions.

The current collection of the Museum of the North counts 2.5 million objects and artifacts.

Inside the Museum of the North

On a Saturday morning in late October when the daylight was slow to pierce through the darkness, the Museum of the North was not only one of a few places open, but also one of several attractions in Fairbanks where you could escape the biting frost.

Our initial plan was to be among the first visitors stepping through the front door of the museum when it opened at 9:00 a.m. Yet it so happened that two days before, rushing to get to North Pole and then to our Airbnb before the darkness descended, we had forgotten to stop at the iconic Moose Antler Arch near the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center.

Since outdoor attractions normally don’t have a fixed schedule you need to abide by, the site took the first spot on our last day in Fairbanks agenda.

Somehow we underestimated the time we needed at the Moose Antler Arch. Roughly 30-40 minutes later (you may not need more than 10 minutes), we were cold and less enthusiastic. The idea of skipping the Museum of the North and instead looking for a cozy breakfast place was tempting. Reluctantly, we decided to stick to the original plan. Our perseverance did pay off!

Is the University of Alaska Museum Worth It?

The Museum of the North was worth every minute we spent there. Its expansive collections engross you. Many hands-on exhibits offer a valuable learning experience, ignite your curiosity, and challenge you to explore more. Let’s admit where else can you run your fingers through polar or brown bear fur in a safe environment unless you are a naturalist or a hunter?

Dylan discovered every “treasure box” (a.k.a. interactive exhibit) inside the Museum of the North, putting his hands on all artifacts and pieces of equipment that encouraged active learning. Needless to say, he wasn’t the one to urge us to go outside or even to a gift shop on the first floor. Considering this active kid’s attention span, it was a major success.

So, to summarize our experience at the Museum of the North in four words, yes, it was worth it!