Page 114 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

112  ALASK A AREA B Y AREA

Ramp to the small boat harbor on Homer Spit
u Homer E Pratt Museum E Bunnell Street Arts Center
3779 Bartlett St. Tel 235-8635. 106 W Bunnell Ave. Tel 235-2662.
84 miles (135 km) S of Soldotna. Open mid-May–mid-Sep: 10am– Open 11am–5pm Mon–Fri, noon–
Transport map A4. * 5,000. ~ 6pm daily; mid-Sep–Dec & Feb– 4pm Sat. 7 ^ = ∑ bunnell
@ g n 201 Sterling Highway, mid-May: noon–5pm Tue–Sun. & arts.org
235-7740. _ Kachemak Bay 8 7 botanical garden only. =
Shorebird Festival (2nd weekend ∑ prattmuseum.org Drawn by its scenic location,
in May). ∑ homeralaska.org several artists made Homer
Homer’s natural history their home, and as a result,
Founded in 1895 and named museum covers the geology, sundry street fairs, workshops,
for Homer Pennock, a New flora, fauna, and oceanogra phy and galleries sprang up. One
York con man who spent a of the peninsula, as well as of the most renowned is the
few months in the area, Homer homesteader and Native Bunnell Street Arts Center,
sells itself as the “end of the cultures. The Kachemak Bay which was founded by an
road.” It is a refuge for visitors, exhibit uses pho tographs, artists’ group in 1989. Housed
artists, and anglers, as well as videos, and interactive computer in the 1937 Old Inlet Trading
some modern-day Pennocks. programs to provide a sense of Post building, which was once
In 1886, Homer got its first the place. Detailed coverage a commercial hub for home-
post office, and in the late of the 1964 earthquake and the steaders, the gallery now show-
1890s, a coal-shipping 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill (see cases contemporary fine art.
settlement occupied the tip p121) is displayed downstairs.
of Homer Spit that runs into Trails through the botanical E Alaska Islands and
Kachemak Bay. However, the gardens outside the main Ocean Visitors’ Center
village was abandoned in building lead past 150 identified 95 Sterling Hwy. Tel 235-6961.
1902 when the coal seams species of local plants. The Open late May–early Sep: 9am–5pm
became unviable.The handful Harrington Cabin displays daily; winter: noon–5pm Tue–Sat. 7
of residents who remained in artifacts from Homer’s 1940s = ∑ islandsandocean.org
town turned to farming and homesteading era. This highly worthwhile stop
fishing. From 1910 onwards, is probably the finest center
Homer expan ded from a of its kind in Alaska. A wealth
fishing village into a pleasant of original exhibits, including a
small town. replica of a Bering Sea seabird
Homer continues to attract rookery and a recording of
outsiders, causing rapid devel- conserva tionist and researcher
opment of its bluffs and foot- Olaus Murie dictating his
hills. For visitors, the town journal, detail the natural
means bird-watching, halibut history of the Alaska Maritime
fishing, shopping for local National Wildlife Refuge and
arts, and visits to the nearby the Kachemak Bay Research
Kachemak Bay State Park. Reserve. Visitors can also hike
Homer also boasts the world- along a boardwalk to Beluga
class Alaska Islands and Oceans Slough’s tidal marshes or watch
Visitors’ Center and several Engaging exhibits inside Homer’s an award-winning film on the
interesting museums. Pratt Museum Aleutian Islands.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp242–3 and pp251–2

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