This cozy, well-regarded museum in the heart of downtown Cordova will bring you up to speed on the community’s natural history, Native and pioneer heritage, and a tumultuous modern era that included the Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964 and the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound.
The theme of the museum—"Where Cultures Meet"—exemplifies the diversity of material in the collection, with an introduction to the rich local history of the Eyak people and other Alaska Native cultures. Displays describe Cordova’s role as the terminus of Copper River & Northwestern Railway that serviced what was once the world’s largest copper mine in Kennecott (inside the current Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.) Cordova was a staging area for Alaska’s first oil boom in Katalla and evolved to become the home port for one of the state’s most valued commercial fisheries. A small gift with books and local art, plus monthly evening programs.
Hours
Summer: Mo-Sa 10-6pm, Su 2-4pm.
Winter: Tu-Fr 10am-5pm, Sa 1-5pm.
Admission
$1, 18 and under, and members of the Cordova Historical Society or Museums Alaska: Free.
