4721 Aircraft Dr.

907/248-5325.

Mid-May-mid-Sept., daily 9-6; mid-Sept.-mid-May

Tues.-Sat. 10-4 or by appointment.

Small but interesting and informative facility presents the state’s aviation history with vintage aircraft, a theater, observation deck along Lake Hood, and a gift shop. A historic Fairchild American Pilgrim and a Stearman C2B, the first plane to land on Mt. McKinley in the early 1930s, are highlights. Volunteers are working to restore many of the planes.

Alaska Heritage Library And Museum.

301 W. Northern Lights Blvd., at C St.

907/265-2834.

Free.

Late May-early Sept., weekdays noon-5; early Sept.-late May, weekdays noon-4.

This museum in the lobby of a large midtown bank displays a variety of Alaskan Native artifacts including baskets, dolls, paintings, and rare books.

Anchorage Museum Of History And Art.

121 W. 7^th Ave.

907/343-4326; 907/343-6173 for recorded information.

Admission charged.

Mid-May-mid-Sept., Sun.-Thurs. 9-9, Fri.-Sat. 9-6; mid-Sept.-mid-May, Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Sun. 1-5.

Visitors can join an informative 45-minute tour or watch a film on Alaska.

Permanent collection depicts 10,000 years of Alaska history, including Native subsistence lifestyles, European exploration, Russian-America and contemporary times. Also features art of the north from travelers, adventurers and Native artists. Daily presentations by local artists and authors take place from June through August.

Elmendorf Air Force Base Wildlife Museum

8481 19^th St., Bldg. 4-803

907/552-2282 for recorded information.

Free. Mon.-Thurs. 3-4:45, Sat. noon-5.

Mounted grizzlies, polar bears, birds, and moose live at this self-guided museum.. There are also hands-on displays

Imaginarium

737 W. 5^th Ave.

907/276-3179

Admission charged.

Mon.-Sat. 10-6, Sun. noon-5.

Children can stand inside a giant soap bubble at the bubble lab, hold a starfish in the marine exhibit, learn about the northern lights, or take a galaxy tour in the planetarium at this experiential science museum. Featured attractions include an iguana, an alligator, and even a 19-ft python.

Oscar Anderson House Museum

420 M St., 907/274-2336

June-mid-Sept., Tues.-Sat. 11-4; mid-Sept.-May, by appointment.

City butcher Oscar Anderson built Anchorage’s first permanent frame house in 1915 at a time when most of Anchorage consisted of tents. A Swedish Christmas open house is held the first two weekends of December. Half-hour tours are available whenever the museum is open.