Anchorage Museum

The Anchorage Museum is Alaska’s largest museum, opened on 18 July 1968 as the Anchorage Historical and Fine Arts Museum. After the 2017 opening of the Rasmuson Wing it covers 247,000 square feet.[1]

Founding

In 1966 the Anchorage City Council reserved part of Block 74 of the Original Townsite for a history and art museum. The museum was established in 1967 with a 10,000-square-foot design by Kenneth Maynard and opened to the public on 18 July 1968.[1]

Expansions

A 15,000-square-foot west wing was added in 1975 and the facility reached 90,000 square feet in 1985, opening in 1986. A 26,000-square-foot glass-façade expansion opened in 2009, and the Rasmuson Wing opened in 2017, bringing the museum to 247,000 square feet.[1]

Names and partners

The museum became the Anchorage Museum of History and Art in 1985 and the Anchorage Museum in 2009. The Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center opened an office there in 1992, and its galleries and research center opened at the museum in 2010.[1]

FAQs

When did the museum open? 18 July 1968.

How large is it? 247,000 square feet since 2017.

Does it host a Smithsonian center? Yes, the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center.

Sources

1. Anchorage Museum: Museum Historical Timeline

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 12, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue