If you are seeking the best museums in Fairbanks Alaska, you have come to the right spot! We’ve got you covered with our absolute favorite Fairbanks museums that you won’t want to miss.

This hamlet in Alaska is famous for its dog sledding, dog sledding, snowmobiling, rafting, skiing, and northern lights.

Did you realize, though, that this village in Alaska has a long tradition of artistic expression and an incredibly varied native culture?

This Alaskan city is home to numerous world-class museums featuring exhibitions commemorating pioneers, railroads, antique automobiles, and the unique northern Alaskan culture.

From Alaskan art to modern art to native life and fine arts and sciences, you will find a museum for every interest, and many are free to visit.

Where do you even begin with so many museums in Fairbanks to choose from? Here are the top 16 Fairbanks museums where you can spend an awesome day!

16. Fairbanks Ice Museum

500 2nd Ave Fairbanks, AK 99701 | Museums | $10 – $15 | Monday to Sunday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Are you looking for a Fairbanks attraction that is truly one of a kind? Believe us when we claim that nothing compares to the Fairbanks Ice Museum!

Dedicated to all things ice, this museum will make you feel like it’s winter, no matter how hot it is outside. This place, composed of an estimated one thousand tons of snow, is widely known as the world’s largest permanent ice sculpture display.

In this place, you can find several enormous ice displays you are welcome to take pictures of and interact with—this includes seating in Santa’s ice sleigh, an ice bar, and an ice slide.

There is also a freezer in which you could experience below zero temperature. In the freezers, you can also enjoy a large-screen slide presentation of the annual World Ice Art Championships and giant ice tableaus.

After viewing the excellent sculptures, you can head to the theater to consider an ice sculpting demonstration highlighting various techniques employed by ice sculptors.

Bring warm clothes with you if you plan to visit this museum. If you forget to pack warm gear, the museum has a small rack of winter jackets available for borrowing. This is definitely one of the top museums in Fairbanks Alaska that you won’t want to miss!

15. University of Alaska Museum of the North

1962 Yukon Dr. Fairbanks, AK 99775 | Museums, Art Galleries, Historical Tours | $8 – $14 | Monday to Sunday 10:00 am – 5:30 pm

Visit this fascinating and instructive museum to kick off your Fairbanks vacation with a blast! Museum of the North, nestled on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, is the state’s sole teaching and research museum.

This museum offers visitors a plethora of activities you can enjoy while inside. Here, you will be able to examine Alaskan art spanning two thousand years. You will also get the chance to learn about the museum’s scientists’ other research on Arctic dinosaurs and other really unique topics.

You can also appreciate this location’s unique displays and stunning architecture. Something is sure to pique your interest in this collection, whether art created by Alaskan natives or polar dinosaurs.

You can also visit the Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery on the second floor to view the entire range of Alaskan art, from ancient Eski­mo ivory carvings to con­tem­po­rary paintings and sculptures.

You will see a lot of exciting art you can appreciate at this well-known Fairbanks museum. The fact that wandering around the museum is not only easy but also enjoyable is a significant benefit. Seriously: spend a whole day here!

This location is excellent if you are interested in discovering Alaska’s traditional culture, natural beauty, and various fauna.

14. Fountainhead Antique Auto Shop

212 Wedgewood Dr. Fairbanks, AK 99701 | Museums | $5 – $10 | Wednesday and Sunday 12:00 pm –4:00 pm

This museum, which has over 85 rare pre-world war II autos and hundreds of antique fashions, is a must-see, especially when it’s raining or freezing in Fairbanks. It’s one of our favorite indoor things to do!

This uniquely popular antique vehicle and fashion museum exhibit hundreds of historically significant pre-world war II automobiles. It also takes visitors back to Alaska’s rough and exhilarating formation years.

In Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, you can find an artistic presentation of early automobiles until the 1930s. Each vehicle has been meticulously restored, cleaned, and preserved; therefore, they appear brand new.

The other incredible feature, and our particular favorite, is the extensive clothing collection. Alongside the historic automobiles in this museum, there are also clothes dating from the 1800s to the 1930s.

The museum carefully chooses each dress for the preservation of its appealing appearance. What’s superior? There are detailed descriptions of each dress next to it! They also display headwear, intimates, shoes, fans, and other products.

Other fascinating exhibits in the museum that you should check out are the images and films of the state in the early 1900s.

So, if you’re in Fairbanks, make time to stop by because you don’t have to be a vehicle enthusiast to appreciate this museum. This is definitely one of our favorite niche museums in Fairbanks Alaska because it’s just so cool!

13. Pioneer Air Museum

2300 Airport Way Fairbanks, AK 99701 | Specialty Museums | $4 – $8 | Monday to Sunday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

When you are in Fairbanks, there is another museum that you must visit: the Pioneer Air Museum!

This museum in Fairbanks gathers, preserves, and displays artifacts relating to the aeronautical history of interior and northern Alaska from 1913 to the present. On your journey towards this location, you will pass a colossal radial aircraft engine, which will capture your imagination.

Inside the museum, you will find the well-preserved history of Alaskan aviation. You will also discover several aircraft from the 1930s and 1940s utilized for military, commercial, and bush flying in the state.

There are also complete models of smaller aircraft dangling from the ceiling or parked below. Plus, you can view a well-preserved historical program on large-screen televisions while seated in old flight seats.

Among the various items you can discover, you might come across some old photographs, bits and pieces of wreckage, or even some old-fashioned engines that spark fantasies of traveling through time.

You can also join its accessible tours led by professional guides or visit the museum’s small gift store for a complete experience. And the staff is really awesome: they’re always available to answer any questions!

If you’re an aviation fanatic then this is one of the smaller museums in Fairbanks Alaska that you won’t want to miss.

12. Fairbanks Community Museum

535 Second Ave Ste 215 Fairbanks, AK 99701 | Speciality Museums | Free Admission | Monday to Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Fairbanks Community Museum is a beautiful spot to spend an afternoon learning about the history of Fairbanks and the surrounding area if you’re only in town for a day.

The museum, located on the second story of an empty shopping mall, is set up to assist in rejuvenating the downtown area.

It comprises interpretive displays, period relics, newspapers, archived photographs, an enormous collection of dog mushing souvenirs, and the official Yukon Quest store.

When you visit this location, you will learn about the various subjects covered by the exhibits, ranging from the city’s history to the gold rush to a dog sledding or mushing presentation.

The displays are also dated so you can figure out where everything fits on the timeline, and there are some seats where you can watch a video about dog sledding.

Even better: this museum is accessible and free to the public!

11. Fairbanks Children’s Museum

302 Cushman St Ste 101 Fairbanks, AK 997013652 | Children’s Museums | $3 – $8 | Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

When the weather in Anchorage stops you from taking your children on outdoor excursions, we recommend bringing them to the Fairbanks Children’s Museum.

Through the power of play, this Fairbanks museum inspires, educates, and connects families in its convenient downtown location.

This museum is an excellent resource for families in Interior Alaska. It is an excellent alternative for indoor play since it provides a stimulating atmosphere that encourages children’s innate curiosity and imagination.

It might not be as large as out-of-state museums, but it is a beautiful destination for children, with lots to keep them occupied.

Here, you can let your kids play in the water, play role-playing, build and construct, do arts and crafts, and more. You need not be concerned because the area is risk-free for youngsters of any age to explore.

The museum’s educators also provide play-based learning programs for children to explore multisensory, energetic, child-centered, and hands-on activities.

10. Tanana Valley Railroad Museum

2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99712. PO Box 84498 Fairbanks AK 99708 | Speciality Museums | Free Admission | Monday to Sunday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

If you are a train enthusiast and happen to be at the Fairbanks railroad depot, you must visit the Tanana Valley Model Railroad Display.

This model railroad show is exceptionally well-executed. When you visit this location, you will notice how great the automation is and how detailed the model is. It is an extraordinary experience to see the model train traverse the many landscapes a real railway might pass through.

The personnel is also quite educated about the history of railroads and the Alaskan railway system. They can even identify the intended areas shown by the models. Don’t be afraid to ask the staff questions!

It won’t take long to stroll around the exhibit, but if you are a fan of model trains, you will surely want to linger over the finer details for quite some time.

Same with other museums here, the admission is free! However, donations are gratefully accepted. This is one of the smaller Fairbanks museums, but is totally worth a visit because it’s so detailed and unique!

9. Gold Daughters Alaska

1671 Steese Highway, Fairbanks, AK 99712 | Specialty Museums, Games and Entertainment Centers | $20 | Sunday 12:00 pm – 12:00 am

Whether you are a first-time tourist to Alaska or a lifelong resident, a trip to the Gold Daughters Alaska will be an experience you will never forget.

Visiting this location is a terrific way to spend a day outdoors with a group while engaging in an activity. This place offers fun and simple exercise, although it can get messy sometimes.

You can acquire the knowledge necessary to pan for gold here – no need to come with any former knowledge. They have covered panning sections that protect them from the sun and rain in inclement weather.

Their professional and pleasant team will guide you through the best gold panning in Alaska, beginning with a panning instruction.

Once you have mastered your skill and gone from a Cheechako to a Sourdough, you are free to pan to your heart’s content.

This location offers unlimited gold panning and a gold guarantee. Unlike other establishments that provide panning, this location does not require a reservation.

After your panning activity, you can peruse their reasonably priced gift shop stocked with Alaskan-made items.

This is an enjoyable learning opportunity for beginner gold panners of any age!

8. Wickersham House Museum

2300 Airport Way Pioneer Park, Fairbanks, AK 99701-4014 | History Museums | Free Admission |Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 am –5:00 pm

The Wickersham House Museum is yet another museum in the Fairbanks area that you must visit to make the most fantastic time of your day.

This museum is the former residence of the first federal judge in Northern Alaska, who later served as a delegate to the United States Congress.

There is no entrance fee to visit the park. However, some attractions have admission fees or suggest a minimum payment.

During our tour, a docent was on hand to provide commentary on the events that transpired in the life of James Wickersham. The docent provides context by describing the judge’s legacy and influence on early Alaskan history.

Following the discussion, we got the opportunity to explore the historic house, where we discovered numerous handouts. The museum shop sells a variety of gifts and souvenirs, in addition to a selection of books.

7. Fairbanks Pioneer Museum

2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 | History Museums | Free Admission | Monday to Sunday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

The Fairbanks Pioneer Museum is a favorite among the locals and one you should also check out.

Pioneer Memorial Park, Inc. is the entity responsible for running this museum. Its purpose is to gather and preserve early interior Alaskan artifacts, papers, and photos.

Since its opening more than 50 years ago, this museum has served the people of Fairbanks, the schools in the area, and thousands of travelers each year.

Alaska’s early settlers contribute most of the museum’s exhibits. These artifacts recount Alaska’s fascinating local, territorial, and state history.

These exhibits likewise show the successes and failures of Alaska’s early settlers as they tried to tame the harsh, wild land to get rich and have a better life.

When you visit this museum, you will also access the public digital repository of collections, papers, and images.

For a complete museum trip, visit the gift shop to buy some unique souvenirs.

6. Morris Thompson Center

101 Dunkel St, Fairbanks, AK 99701 | Visitor Centers | Free Admission | Monday to Sunday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

This fantastic visitor information center and museum is a free-admission center giving travel assistance and information. Serv­ing as the region­al visitor facility, the friendly and knowledgeable personnel provide answers to all your inquiries. This is the place to go when you need info about Fairbanks!

The site includes pamphlets, maps, free WiFi and telephone, daily lodging availability, and local walking and driving excursions.

Aside from general Fairbanks information, this facility also offers exhibitions on Native Alaskan culture. Here, you can discover world-class displays of Alaska’s four seasons and its native art, music, storytelling, and dance. These contemporary displays are entertaining for people of all ages and are up-to-date.

A gift shop is also available at this location, and regional artisans create most of its items.

5. Aurora Ice Museum

56.5 Chena Hot Springs Road Chena Hot Springs Resort, Fairbanks, AK 99711 | Specialty Museums | $8 – $10 | Monday to Sunday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm

The Aurora Ice Museum in Fairbanks, Alaska, is another museum worth mentioning!

This most extensive ice environment open all year is at the Chena Hot Springs Resort in Alaska.

This museum contains some fascinating sculptures, including a scene of jousting. The talent, artistry, and whole experience were just remarkable. It also features a stunning exhibition of inventiveness and invention.

You can receive a guided introduction and freely explore the exhibits. They also have a bar, where you can have an appletini for an additional fee.

We recommend purchasing the drink option, as you can partake in the ice drinkware disposal ritual after the trip.

Since it might get rather chilly within the museum, the employees will lend you a coat in case you need one. However, we recommend bringing your own if you do not like to share a worn jacket.

Also, keep in mind that this is a booked tour only. Therefore, you must know the showing times to arrive with sufficient time to purchase tickets and walk to the museum area.

4. Alaska House Art Gallery

1003 Cushman St, Fairbanks, AK 99701-4618| Free Admission | $11 – $50 | Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

Looking for a place to purchase local goods in Fairbanks, Alaska? Alaska House Gallery is where you should head to!

Dedicated to promoting Alaskan art – carvings, masks, baskets, jewelry, and Alaskan-produced presents – this gallery showcases real Alaskan native and locally manufactured artwork created by more than 200 Alaskan artists.

Built by hand in the early 1930s, this downtown Fairbanks gallery is within walking distance of most hotels. Even though the building is quite old, the owner of this gallery carefully maintains it to look stunning inside and out. The garden of this place is also a sight to behold during the warm months.

When you visit this location, you will notice that it is a good gallery filled with a wide assortment of jewelry, paintings, and other works of art. It features an in-depth presentation of a highlighted artist, and its staff is quite educated about a great deal of local information about the artist.

This gallery also features a lovely mix of artistic works in various genres, mediums, and price ranges. Plus, you can observe that everything in the shop is authentic and has its unique characteristics.

Although it is one of the best locations to visit if you want to buy something excellent, it is worth simply looking around because of its beautiful gallery. So, if you wish to add a lot of color and richness to your Fairbanks trip, Alaska House Gallery is the place to go!

3. Two Street Gallery LLC

535 2nd Ave Suite 102, Fairbanks, AK 99701-4769  | Art Galleries | Free Admission | Monday to Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Two Street Gallery LLC is the site to go if you’re looking for local artwork to bring home as gifts for friends and family.

This fine art gallery is nestled in the heart of downtown Fairbanks and displays the work of over twenty local artists. You will find watercolor paintings, pottery, sculpture, printmaking, and jewelry in this gallery.

This gallery also features silversmithing, Giclée prints, textile art, and photographs of the Aurora.

If you go to this location, you will find an artist willing to converse with you and answer any questions.

When we visited this location, we spoke with a local artist and were fascinated to learn more about what inspires and motivates their work.

2. George Horner Ice Park

Marion Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99709 | Art Galleries | $8 – $12 | Monday to Sunday 09:00 am – 10:00 pm

George Horner Ice Park is an excellent option if you cannot visit the Ice Museum due to overbooking. You’ll still get to experience some of the top ice sculptures in Alaska!

The enormous park in Fairbanks features acres of some of the world’s most incredible ice sculptures, which come in various sizes and designs. The park’s ice sculptures were some of the most artistic we have ever seen!

If you want to learn the skill of ice sculpting or wish to know how the artists make them, you are free to check out the park before the event starts.

When we visited this location, we were astounded by the beautiful craftsmanship and variety of the sculptures. However, please note that you cannot touch these displays, but you can enjoy the slides made of ice.

Kids of any age will have a blast exploring the ice slides, tunnels, and climbing structures in the designated play area. You can also bring your sleds and enjoy sledding with your kids!

Plus, the park has cabin toilets with heaters, which is a benefit! There is also a cabin that serves hot chocolate.

1. Gallery 49 Fine Art Gallery

535 2nd Ave Suite 103, Inside the Co-Op Plaza, Fairbanks, AK 99701-4769 | Art Galleries | Free Admission | Wednesday to Saturday 11:30 am – 4:00 pm

This gallery in Fairbanks, Alaska, features a variety of local artists. Located in the downtown area, it is one of numerous modest yet intriguing art galleries in town.

When you visit this location, you can explore its several galleries, including the Native American gallery. Many fantastic photographs are worth viewing if you appreciate such things.

Additionally, the staff at this gallery is exceptionally cordial and helpful. They even make recommendations for other destinations for us to check out.

In Closing

That brings us to the end of our rundown of the best museums in Fairbanks Alaska, where you can spend your day!

With so many museums to select from, we hope that after reading this post, you have already found your new favorite museum in town.

Up next: 16 MUST Try Restaurants in Fairbanks, Alaska after your long day at a local museum!