Kodiak

Preserves the 7,500-year heritage of Kodiak's indigenous Alutiiq (“A-LOO-tick”) people. The exhibits display one of the largest collections of Alutiiq artifacts in the state, ranging from a kayaker in his waterproof parka of seal gut to a 19th-century spruce-root hat. Take time to explore 'Sharing Words,' an intriguing interactive computer program that uses village elders to teach Alutiiq words and songs in an attempt to save the indigenous language.

Museum is housed in the oldest building in Alaska, the Russian American Magazin or Erskine House. Exhibits interpret Kodiak's Russian era (1741-1867), early American era (1867-1912), and modern era (1912-present).

The most recognized building in the city, it houses the oldest continuously operating Russian Orthodox parish in America. The original church was built in 1794 by the early Russian colonists. The current church building is the fourth church on this site, built in 1945 after a fire destroyed the previous church. Amazingly, this church building survived the tsunami that hit the city after the 1964 earthquake.

Visitor center offers a fun, interactive exhibit hall, including a complete skeleton of a 36-foot gray whale, for learners of all ages to spark an interest in the wild lands of Kodiak Refuge and the plants and animals that call the island home. It also features Kodiak videos on demand, a small Alaska Geographic bookstore, trip planning information, and outdoor summer programs for the whole family. Getting to the refuge is not as simple as jumping into a car. The refuge covers most of Kodiak Island, most only accessible by floatplane or boat.

Wildlife follows flora and terrain: elk and deer in the north where the dark green spruce forests dominate, bison in the mid-sections where the grazing lands are, mountain goats in the higher elevations, caribou herds to the south where tundra and grasslands are. And the massive Kodiak brown bear can be found throughout the island, thanks to the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge.