You will find the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre at km 1423 (Mile 886) along the Alaska Highway in Whitehorse, Yukon. Opened in 1997 under the Yukon Territorial Government's Department of Tourism and Culture, this research and exhibition facility invites you to explore the fascinating history of Beringia. This massive 3,200-kilometer landmass once stretched from the Kolyma River in Siberia to Canada's Mackenzie River, remaining unglaciated during the Pleistocene epoch due to light snowfall and an arid climate.
When you visit, you can discover why this area is so important to archeologists and paleontologists. Beringia served as a vital migration bridge between Asia and the Americas. As you tour the center, you will learn about the movement of prehistoric creatures, including easterly-migrating mammoths, mastodons, sheep, and bison, alongside westerly-migrating camels and equines.
The facility showcases recent research into paleobotany, radiocarbon dating, and rare fossil assemblages uncovered from sites like the Bluefish Caves, Klondike gold fields, and Old Crow region. Keep an eye out for insights on ancient ground squirrel middens, scimitar cats, short-faced bears, broad-fronted moose, giant beavers, and two-million-year-old whitefish fossils from Ch'ijee's Bluff.
What to see at Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre
- Exhibits on Beringia, a 3,200 km Pleistocene landmass from Siberia to Canada
- Fossil research on giant beavers, scimitar cats, and short-faced bears
- Insights into ancient animal migrations between Asia and the Americas
- Discoveries from Bluefish Caves, Klondike gold fields, and Old Crow
- Approximately 2-million-year-old whitefish fossils from Ch'ijee's Bluff
Visiting tips
Look for the centre at km 1423 (Mile 886) as you travel along the Alaska Highway in Whitehorse.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning
How to get there & what’s nearby
Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre is easy to reach on Whitehorse’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Whitehorse travel guide.
See the full Whitehorse travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.