inupiat heritage center

89pate

The Inupiat people are trying to preserve their culture. At the Center, they presented native dances and had several artists from the area selling their artwork. One piece of art was a picture of a village carved in a piece of a bowhead whale's jaw bone. The center is small but accommodates a lot of people. It is a central meeting place in the town. The Inupiat people are anxious to share their culture by talking with the visitors one on one. Their daily life is not easy because of the weather in northern Alaska but they are cheerful and proud of their accomplishments.

wes1031

I found myself with a couple of hours to kill while I was in Barrow and, even though I am not much of one for a museum, I really enjoyed my visit here. I easily spent more than an hour here and the time went by quickly. There was so much fascinating information and everything was presented well.

RothesayFamily0630

This is a small museum that provides real insights into the unique history and culture of this remote settlement. An hour or so here makes it easier to put the sights and locations in context.Unlike many museums, it also has a community role as a place for the transfer and learning of local traditions, cultural activities and skills. It could benefit from the availability of a regular guided tour.A must see in Barrow if you are interested in the history and people of the place you are visiting.

soulprojector

I personally like to get insight into small communities and cultures at places on earth I visit.I think this center is a great asset to Barrow in that people like myself can learn quite a bit about the Iñupiat history in Barrow and other aspects of Alaska's history in general.Well worth a visit if you've come so far to the top of North America

thej

To be fair I do not like museums or heritage centers. I would never have gone in but what else is there to do here?!? It is $10.00 for an adult but free if you are 60 and older. And tip: post cards in the gift shop are only 55 cents! Ten minutes and I was ready to leave. There is not much here but the history of whaling and hunting. I learned a few things and some of it somewhat interesting, The library next door is a much better place to spend some time in my opinion.

MillersAmerica

A display of ancient artifacts, modern culture, and tools that explain how the Inuit survived from ancient days until now. Bones of mammals now extinct and creatures now living on the Northern Slope of Alaska. Groups have come through to perform native dances. Behind the center is a workshop where men make baleen and ivory and bone souvenirs.

rd400

A typical boring museum. Paint Scheme makes it even more boring. Look up the info on the internet save your money.A lot of tipping required such as the Children's. dance. Illegal to pay Children under labor laws so tipping is encouraged. That's not right.

Giselle1106

I had only one day to spend in Barrow but I wanted to learn as much as I could. After consulting with the Inupiat Heritage Center and asking them for recommendation about a local, knowledgible guide for the day they recommended that I speak to Van Edwardson. He made my day in Barrow one of the best of my 5-week Alaska journey. He explained the museum to me, including the pictures of various past and present mayors (he had worked for a number of them and introduced me to the current one when she stopped by at the museum). The museum is definitely well worth visiting, especially the workshop for local artists in the back and the community room where you can watch traditional dances being performed by children and young people. If you have the opportunity to secure Van as a guide you are in luck since he knows everybody in Barrow.

pdxdl

Very helpful, pretty informativeU can walk to yourselfIt has a work shop for locals to use to carve art objects which u can buy directly from the artist and negotiate price I bought a very nice carved Ballaine 3 x 8 in for $40.

229jeffk

A pretty good overview of the history of whaling and living in Barrow. A little light on any other aspects of life in NSB, such as the impact of the pipeline and other aspects of Barrow, but a very good whaling exhibit.

PatriciaJH44

We learned all about the importance of whaling and the Inupiat way of life. We watched dancers and drummers, as well as Inupiat artists carving baleen and whale gone. The museum is small but very interesting

Wanderer0213

When I travel though Barrow I always stop here for really nice products and the museum! You will actually meet the native artists and can work out a deal for something you will hand down to your family. Come and shop and enjoy the craftsman's!

LindsayW69

The Center has a very nice exhibit on Whaling, a small section of discovery of Mammoth bones, a good display of local fauna, some traditional handicrafts and information on the development of the North Slopes Borough/mayors of the Borough. It is a great way to get an orientation to Barrow.

Daniel_R011

The people at the centre were friendly and very informative. It is a must to include on your visit to Barrow.

MiaSophia_10

Worth visiting the center. Very educational. Learned about the Inupiat traditions, history, and their way of life.