Background

"The Museum has been a big part of my life since high school. Although I enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in the Museum when it's quiet, I also love to see the Museum filled with the buzz of other people." - K.N. Goodrich, artist

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 15,000 more 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, a part of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History

1999
A $50 million endowment from Elmer Rasmuson makes planning for the next museum expansion possible

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

June 2009
Preview events to be announced

April 2010
Spring 2010 - Grand Opening date to be announced