Page 144 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

142  ALASK A AREA B Y AREA

e Juneau

Often described as a little San Francisco due to its hilly setting,
Alaska’s capital is located between Mount Juneau and Mount
Roberts along Gastineau Channel. Joe Juneau and Dick Harris’
1880 discovery of gold in Gold Creek and Juneau’s strategic
location on the route to the Klondike goldfields established
its importance and led to it taking over the role of Alaska’s
capital from Sitka in 1900. In the mid-1970s, Alaskans voted
to move the state capital to Willow, but due to projected Gold Rush-era mining display at the Alaska
costs, they reversed the decision in 1982. State Museum
Last Chance
President Dwight Eisenhower Mining Museum
1 mile (2 km)
to sign the bill that gave Alaska
its statehood, and a children’s
area with hands-on activities.

Cope Park B A S I N R OA D
7 T H S T R E E T EAST STREET KENNEDY ST
G OLDBELT A V E N U E
Wickersham State 6 T H S T R E E T H A R R I S S T R E E T
Historical Site
Pleasure craft and fishing boats anchored in Juneau C A P I T O L A V E N U E DIXON STREET Capital 5 T H S T R E E T St. Nicholas
School
C A L H O U N A V E N U E
7T H ST Yard
Governor’s 4TH STREET
INDIAN ST
P Alaska State Capitol E Alaska State Museum House
Building 395 Whittier St. Tel 465-2901. @ 3 DISTIN ST Alaska State GO LD ST R EE T
Capitol Bldg
4th & Main. @ 3 & 4. Open mid- & 4. Open for new opening hours City ST N FR ANK LIN ST
SEWARD ST REE T T
May–mid-Sep: 8:30am– 5pm Mon–Fri, following closure for renovations, VILLAGE STREET Museum 3R D D ST REE
3R
9:30am–4pm Sat & Sun; winter: 8am– telephone or see website. & 7 = State Office MAIN STREET 2ND ST RE E T
4:30pm Mon–Fri. 8 ∑alaska.org/ ∑ museums.alaska.gov Building 1ST STREET
detail/alaska-state-capitol-building The Alaska State Museum Cinema
Designed to serve as the seat has an impressive collection Alaska State WILLOUGHBY AVENUE D IX ON ST
of Territorial Government, this reflecting many facets of Alaskan Museum W H I T T I E R S T R E E T
mar ble Art Deco build ing was history, ranging from prehistoric FRONT STREET SO UT H F RA NKL IN
com pleted in 1931. It now houses times to modern days. On the Centennial
S SEWARD ST
the Alaska State Legislature and ramp to the sec ond floor is a Hall WAY GASTINEAU AVENUE
SHATTU CK ST
the offices of the Governor and mock rainforest, complete with E G A N D R I V E Marine FERRY S TR E ET
Lieutenant Governor. A state map recorded bird song and a replica Airport Dock Park
Visitor
made from a slice of the Alaska bald eagle nest. Displayed along 8 miles (13 km) Red Dog
Pipeline is on dis play near the the walls of the ramp are a range Ferry Terminal Saloon
13 miles (21 km)
staircase, and decorative details of Native artifacts, including Library
throughout showcase aspects dolls, masks, bas kets, and models Gastineau
Channel
of Alaska’s culture and economy. of traditional canoes. There is Cruise Ship
Free tours are available daily also a collec tion of Native ivory Dock
in summer. The Legislature is “billikens” upstairs. These chubby Mount Roberts
Tramway
in session January to March. elf-like figurines have now THANE
become main stays
of the Alaskan
tourist trade.
Russian America 0 meters 200
is repre sented by
a col lection of 0 yards 200
icons and samovars,
while numerous Sights at a Glance
mining tools bring
the Gold Rush to 1 Alaska State Capitol Building
life. Other high- 2 Alaska State Museum
lights include a 3 Wickersham State Historical Site
mineral collection, 4 Red Dog Saloon
Facade of the Alaska State Capitol Building the pen used by 5 Mount Roberts Tramway
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp243–4 and pp253–4
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