The Alaska State Museum in Juneau was founded in 1900 to collect the human and natural history of Alaska. A new building, named for first curator Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff, opened on June 6, 2016.[1]
| Location | Juneau |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1900 |
| Purpose-built building | 1972 |
| Current building opened | June 6, 2016 |
| Renovation cost | $139 million |
| Named for | Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff |
History
The collection had no permanent home for about 20 years and was held in several places. Its first permanent home was the Arctic Brotherhood Hall in Juneau, which the museum outgrew in the 1940s. A purpose-built building designed by Linn A. Forrest was completed in 1972. The museum closed temporarily on February 28, 2014, the 1972 building was demolished in August 2014 and a larger facility opened on the same footprint on June 6, 2016 after a $139 million project.[1]
The Kashevaroff building
The new building joins the State Libraries, Archives and Museum research facility and is named for Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff, the museum’s first curator. It is also known as the APK.[1]
Collections
Collections cover Northwest Coast cultures (Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian), Athabascan cultures of the Interior, Inupiaq of the north coast, Yup’ik of southwest Alaska, Alutiiq of Prince William Sound and Kodiak Island and Unangax of the Aleutians. They also include Russian colonial era artifacts, state and political history, fine art, natural history, and industry and trades.[1]
FAQs
When was the Alaska State Museum founded? 1900.
Who is the building named for? Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff, the first curator.
When did the new building open? June 6, 2016.
Sources
Key facts
- Founded 1900
- $139 million project
Quick checkWhen did the current Alaska State Museum building open?Show answer
June 6, 2016
Sources
- Wikipedia. Alaska State Museum. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-14)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 14, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue