Kodiak Museums & Cultural Centers
Explore Kodiak’s museums and cultural centers for a captivating journey through the island’s history and heritage. Bring your little ones for hands-on activities, attend educational programs, and gain a deeper understanding of the unique heritage that makes Kodiak a remarkable destination.
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Museums, Cultural Centers
Whether you’re looking for a book on Alaskan history, checking your e‑mail, or bringing the family for a kids’ activity, the Kodiak library has services for both residents and visitors. A cornerstone of the community since it was founded in two shacks in the 1940’s, the library has grown to include an audio-visual wing and Alaska reference room. It now offers some 200 magazines, summer reading programs, and local artwork.
Kodiak Island was a strategic outpost for both Russians and Americans, first used by Russians as the headquarters of the Russian American Company (now Kodiak Harbor). Take a tour at this museum with knowledgeable veterans and volunteers and learn the history of the Army and Navy on Kodiak Island and the Harbor Defenses front. Make sure you check out the eight-inch gun barrel, part of the defense system, which could fire up to 20 miles! Or… ...more
Whether it’s your first or last stop on the island, make sure you visit this museum, which offer the best insight into the island’s heritage. Not only will you find an impressive collection here, but also a great staff; they’ll share stories about village life, continued traditions, and archaeology projects. With 100,000 artifacts, some 50,000 photos, and a total collection of 250,000 pieces, the museum houses much of the history of the… ...more
Located in the oldest standing building in Alaska, this museum is filled with artifacts, photography, and artwork recording the history of Kodiak. You’ll find exhibits from the time of the Alutiiq Natives, to king crabbing and daily life in the 1980s, all the way up to the present. Their focus, though, is Russian-American history and the island’s early American history. Inspect the design expertise of the Alutiiqs while examining that… ...more
A museum without walls, this organization has been working since 1996 to preserve and recognize the island’s maritime history. Their displays around town include 14 interpretive signs at St. Paul Harbor as well as three satellite exhibits. Check out the large, full-color panels that showcase the work of the Coast Guard, fishermen, and the species of fish they seek. The satellite exhibits, at the bank and college, are constantly changing; the… ...more