Alaska Native Heritage Center 🇺🇸

Located ten miles from downtown Anchorage on 26 wooded acres, the Alaska Native Heritage Center offers you an immersive experience into the traditions of Alaska's 11 major cultural groups. Opened in 1999, this nonprofit institution stands as the only statewide organization representing all Alaska Native cultures and is proudly operated by Indigenous people. During your visit, you can explore distinct indoor and outdoor spaces designed to educate and inspire.

Head to The Gathering Place to watch live demonstrations of Alaska Native dancing, Native Games, and traditional storytelling. Inside the Hall of Cultures, you will find rotating exhibits, family craft activities, and artwork created by Alaska Native artists. You can also catch rotating films in the theatre, including the center's documentary, "Stories Given, Stories Shared." Outdoors, take a stroll around Lake Tiulana—named for Iñupiat artist and dancer Paul Tiulana—to explore six life-sized Native dwellings representing unique ways of living, including the Athabascan, Alutiiq, Aleut, Yup’ik/Cup’ik, Inupiaq/St.

Lawrence Island Yupik, and Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples. Guided often by youth interns, these village tours let you view authentic artifacts used in daily life, making it an essential stop for understanding Alaska’s rich Indigenous heritage.

What to see at Alaska Native Heritage Center

• The Gathering Place featuring Native dancing, Native Games, and storytelling demonstrations
• Six life-sized outdoor Native dwellings surrounding Lake Tiulana
• Hall of Cultures with rotating exhibits, family craft activities, and Alaska Native artwork
• Theatre screenings of films, including the documentary 'Stories Given, Stories Shared'
• Village site tours guided by youth interns showcasing daily life artifacts

Visiting tips

Be sure to take a village site tour led by youth interns to learn about the six life-sized Native dwellings and see authentic everyday artifacts.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Alaska Native Heritage Center is easy to reach on Anchorage’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Alaska Aviation Museum. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Anchorage travel guide.