Anchorage Highlights and Indigenous Heritage

Overview

Explore Alaska’s largest city while learning about the Dena’ina Athabascan people’s rich cultural heritage. Begin with a downtown tour seeing where Anchorage started along Ship Creek, then visit the Alaska Art Alliance to observe Alaska Native artists practicing traditional carving techniques with ivory, whale bone, and baleen—skills passed down through generations. Continue to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Alaska’s premier cultural institution, where you’ll explore exhibits, walk among traditional dwellings around Lake Tiulana, and experience live cultural demonstrations including storytelling, traditional dancing, and Native Games. This immersive journey provides authentic insights into both contemporary and traditional Alaska Native cultures. After exploring the Native Heritage Center, you will take the short trip back downtown.