talkeetna historical society museum

ivysmomMaryland

The museum is small, but full of information about the Gold Rush and the sort of people in Talkeetna during that time. It won't take you long to look around but the museum is worth the stop. They also have some really interesting information about Denali and people who have climbed it.

LarryH169

If you have any interest in mountaineering, and chances are you do if you're in Talkeetna, this is the place to visit!! The amount of history and artifacts here are amazing. There is also an amazing three dimensional representation of Denali! Additionally, there are plenty of local history displays that will keep you engaged... This is a MUST SEE place in Talkeetna!

GrayTraveler_11

Do not expect a McDonald's, KFC or Wendy's in Talkeetna. Do expect good food, friendliness and deep country hospitality. Do not expect a moose, grizzle around every corner. (Well, there is always a chance.)Yes, their are souvenir shops, flight services and a variety of adventure companies. Talkeetna should be a must stop for any visit to Alaska.I last visited in 2011.

ctyankee16

We attended a wonderful ranger talk about climbing Mount McKinley/Denali as recommended by our B&B._____

344judyh

This is a small museum in Talkeetna and is worth a visit if you have an extra hour or two. The museum exhibits many very interesting artifacts which depict the history of life in this small Alaskan town. It also gives significant history about the climbing of Mt. Denali/McKinley. One of the best parts is the large model of Mt. Denali showing all the faces from every direction!

Larson2

Stop here for a quick history of the area. Have them put on the film (approx. 15 minutes) about climbing Mt. McKinley/Denali.

670adamm

This museum was much more than I expected. Three buildings, each with a different emphasis. Warning though, you need to keep an eye on your kiddos if they are young. My 2 and 5 year old boys are more familiar with a hands on type of experience so I spent most of my time correcting and redirecting them while the rest of the family enjoyed the museum. I loved the model of McKinley!

looneylake

A lot of history in such a small place, interesting to listen to. Locals spent some time on putting this together.

mangomike2

The museum was quite interesting but the Rangers talk on Mount McKinley was amazing. We had some extra time to spend in Talkeetna so we took in the Rangers discussion on a lark. It was one of the more interesting informative things we did well in Alaska. You really get a feeling for how difficult the climb is and also the model of the mountain ranges helps you to understand how vast area Mount McKinley/Denali is

Upatnight

You must plan to go for the Park Ranger talk about climbing Mt McKinley. Excellent collection of artifacts. A bit musty smelling in a couple of the buildings

jenniferhL2448BK

Great talk with a local. 3 buildings in total. the 2nd a little musty smelling don't go in if you have allergies or breathing issues. The railway section very interesting!

Travel_guy815

Cute museum, interesting artifacts. The highlight by far was the ranger-led talk about the history and the experience of climbing the mountain. The mountain model is very nice too. The talk took place around the large model. Very nice.

241DavidW

The museum tells the story of town and is a nice story. The high spot for us was the model of the "mountain" and the views that come from each of the "faces". Seeing how the climbers make the accent and have changed over the years was also very interesting. The admission was only $3 and this mountain portion was worth the admission.

Katie200082

The artifacts and knowledge in the museum are interesting to walk through and read about. There are some neat pictures showing how the town has changed over the years. However, the part that was the most engaging for us was about the climb to the top of Mt McKinley. The display and the information posted throughout the room is interesting by itself, but you definitely want to attend during one of the ranger talks. Our ranger was very engaging and we thoroughly enjoyed it. What was originally a way to spend some time on a rainy day ended up being a happy surprise! If you have the time, and can be there for the talk, do it!

859paulinek

We attended a talk on how people plan and climb Mt. McKinley. The museum also contains displays of the area. Talkeetna is the town where all climbers assemble for flights to base camp. The town itself is a throwback to early Alaska. There are several good restaurants and outdoor activities such as rafting and hiking. A must stop on the trip to Denali.