A brief history of the Anchorage Museum

1968 - Museum opens with an exhibition of 60 borrowed Alaska paintings and a collection of 2,500 historic and ethnographic objects on loan from the local historical society

1975 - Museum expands to include an additional 15,000 square feet, making room for more galleries, back-of-house space and the library

1986 - The museum adds another 140,000 square feet, including a parking garage and the Atrium, auditorium, Alaska Gallery, permanent art galleries and the Children's Gallery

1992 - The museum is named the future regional headquarters for the Arctic Studies Center, part of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History

1999 - A $50 million endowment from Elmer Rasmuson funds planning and preparation for the next museum expansion

2005 - Anchorage voters approve bond initiative to help support operations of the expanded museum

August 20, 2006 - Groundbreaking ceremony and celebration

September 23, 2006 - Topping-Off Ceremony

May 30, 2009 - Opening day reveals new expansion, including Atwood Resource Center, Chugach Gallery, new museum shop and new museum café

Spring 2010 - Grand opening reveals Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center, Imaginarium Discovery Center, Thomas Planetarium, ConocoPhillips Gallery and The Common