Take your first steps into Interior Alaska at a visitors center that combines information about the region with exhibitions, events and artisanal crafts.
When visiting Fairbanks, make your first stop the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. This multipurpose venue exists to help visitors with any information they may need about the region of Interior Alaska. Come to this friendly and fascinating visitors center to pick up maps, find out about walking tours, explore the exhibits or enjoy a cultural event.
This unusual combination of information center and museum happened as the result of the Tanana Chiefs Conference working with local government services to provide a useful space for celebrating the cultures, languages and crafts of Interior Alaska. Experience the legacy of Koyukon Athabascan business leader Morris Thompson at this popular attraction.
Step inside and ask the friendly staff for tips on exploring Interior Alaska. Brochures here will tell you about hiking and biking trails outside Fairbanks. The center aims to help anyone traveling through Fairbanks by offering maps, free Wi-Fi and tips on nearby accommodations.
Browse the exhibits that celebrate the culture of Interior Alaska. How We Live: The People and the Landfeatures dioramas on the seasons of life in the region, with a focus on Athabascan culture. Learn about the different animals that live in Interior Alaska, such as the grizzly bear that you can see represented foraging in one of the displays.
Attend one of the events at the cultural center. Listen to traditional Athabascan storytelling and music. Watch free, daily films that shed light on the history and nature of the region. Discover work by local artists. Children are welcome here and given fun tasks that teach them about the wildlife in Alaska.
Leave the main building and wander along the riverfront. Find one of the local landmarks, an archway crafted from moose and deer antlers collected from across the region.
The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center is located in the northern part of Downtown Fairbanks on the bend of the Chena River. Local buses stop outside the center and free parking is available around the center. Visit on any day of the year and stay until late into the evening throughout summer.
