2010 MEDIA KIT - Anchorage Museum

625 C StreetAnchorage, Alaska 99501(907) 929-9200www.anchoragemuseum.orgMUSEUM OVERVIEWThe Anchorage Museum’s mission is to shareand connect Alaska with the world throughart, history and science. Located in the heartof downtown Anchorage, the museum offers aunique cultural experience for residentsand visitors.PRESERVING ALASKA’SINDOMITABLE SPIRITSIZE The Anchorage Museum is the largestmuseum in the state, with more than170,000 square feet of indoor galleriesand public space.ORIGINS The Anchorage Museum openedin 1968 with 60 borrowed Alaska paintingsand a collection of 2,500 historic andethnographic objects owned by the localhistorical society.COLLECTIONS The museum’s permanentcollection holds more than 25,000 objects,500,000 historical photographs, 12,000publications and 800 maps.VISITORS One of the 10 most visitedattractions in Alaska, the museum draws morethan 140,000 people a year, including 18,000schoolchildren.EXHIBITIONS The museum develops andshares celebrated exhibits with museumsaround the world. It also brings in majortouring shows such as “A T-Rex Named Sue”from The Field Museum in Chicago and“Star Wars: Where Science MeetsImagination” from the Boston Museumof Science and Lucasfilm, Ltd.PROGRAMS Through a rich set ofeducational programs for children andadults, the museum inspires people to gather,engage their senses and exchange ideas.Programs include lectures, performances, artclasses and family days.PERMANENT EXHIBITIONSALASKA GALLERY Dedicated to the history ofAlaska’s people from pre-contact times to thepresent, the gallery features artifacts from themany distinct Alaska Native cultures, Russianoccupation and the gold rush era. Displays alsohighlight 20th century historical events such asthe 8.4 magnitude earthquake of 1964 and theExxon Valdez oil spill.ART OF THE NORTH Reflecting the regionallandscape and people, the Art of the Northgalleries feature works by a diverse groupof artists, including an extensive collectionby Sydney Laurence, Alaska’s best-knownlandscape painter. Themes include exploration,lifestyles, wildlife and portraits.SMITHSONIAN ARCTIC STUDIES CENTER Thiscenter houses an exhibition of 600 rare AlaskaNative artifacts from the Smithsonian Institution.The exhibit is designed so visitors can easilycompare and contrast different Alaska Nativecultural groups.IMAGINARIUM DISCOVERY CENTER In thisarea, visitors can explore earth, life and physicalscience through hands-on exhibits. Displays putscientific concepts into an Alaska context.DOCENTS Experts on Alaska history,volunteer docents lead tours throughoutthe year.P. 1MEDIA INQUIRIESSarah Henning, Public Relations Coordinator, (907) 929-9231, shenning@anchoragemuseum.orgJanet Asaro, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, (907) 929-9229, jasaro@anchoragemuseum.org