Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center

Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center A place for gathering, discovery, education, and celebration - and your first stop in Fairbanks!
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We offer a ton of fun and useful services and activities:
- Friendly, knowledgeable visitor service experts to help plan your trup
- Exhibits celebrating the peoples, lands, and cultures of Interior Alaska
- Alaska Native cultural programs
- Shopping for souvenirs, books, and authentic Alaska Native handcrafts
- Park rangers available to help plan your adventures
- Beautiful grounds with outdoors

art, the Antler Arch, trails on the river, and Fairbanks' oldest structure on its original location, the Gould Cabin. To be notified about all the exciting events happening at the Morris Thompson Center, follow this link www.morristhompsoncenter.org/mailing-list-signup/

In Alaska, aviation isn’t just transportation, it’s a lifeline. With many communities off the road system, planes connec...
08/19/2025

In Alaska, aviation isn’t just transportation, it’s a lifeline. With many communities off the road system, planes connect families, deliver supplies, support local economies, and provide access to healthcare and emergency services.

Aviation keeps our state connected, resilient, and thriving.

Visit us at MTCVC to learn about the role of aviation in our way of life here in the Interior and throughout Alaska!

August 14 is Navajo Code Talkers Day when the service of the Diné cousins of Alaska’s Dené in WWII is recognized and rem...
08/14/2025

August 14 is Navajo Code Talkers Day when the service of the Diné cousins of Alaska’s Dené in WWII is recognized and remembered.

In Alaska we also recognize the Tlingit Code Talkers from Southeast.

During World War II, five brave Tlingit servicemen Richard Bean Sr., Robert “Jeff” David Sr., brothers Mark Jacobs Jr. & Harvey Jacobs, and George Lewis Jr. used the Tlingit language to safeguard battlefield communications that the enemy could never decipher.

Their service remained a closely guarded secret for decades. It wasn’t until 2013 that the U.S. Congress posthumously awarded them silver medals, and the Tlingit & Haida Central Council received a Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their sacrifice.

In 2019, the Alaska Legislature followed with an official citation honoring their legacy.

We honor their courage, wisdom, and service. Speakers of languages that were actively suppressed were able to provide secure and rapid communication turning a language targeted for erasure into a tool of national defense.

Thank you to all of the Code Talkers and thank you to those who work to keep the languages alive and spoken into posterity.

07/30/2025

It is Alaska's sweetest time of the year- berry picking season!

Our Tanana Chiefs Conference youth intern, Roxy, is here to share with us the importance of berry picking and showcase some of the berries found here at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center! She’s at the Alaska Centers - Fairbanks APLIC desk when she’s not outside with the plants, roots and berries!

Every day is a busy day at Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center! This picture is going to be FULL of guests enjo...
07/25/2025

Every day is a busy day at Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center! This picture is going to be FULL of guests enjoying all of our usual offerings, and a few extra fun ones today, Friday, July 25th.

At 11:00am we're going to have a drumming presentation from Travis Cole, facilitated by our partners at Denakkanaaga in the theatre.

At noon, we're hosting one of the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival's lunch bites concerts - in the Gateway where the awesome map of Alaska is, we'll have performers sharing their vocal talents and classic cabaret tunes.

We're a community with a wide range of interests and marvelous population of talented folks. Come on by at 11 and stay until 1 to get a chance to enjoy them all!

Every growing season fresh produce from the Morris Thompson Center’s demonstration garden makes its way to the Bread Lin...
07/25/2025

Every growing season fresh produce from the Morris Thompson Center’s demonstration garden makes its way to the Bread Line Inc.’s Stone Soup Café.

It’s a small garden with a big purpose—sharing local food and knowledge, and helping feed our neighbors with dignity and warmth. We’re proud to be part of a community that grows together and gives together.

07/22/2025

Visit the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center medicinal plant garden containing medicinal plants important for Alaska Native medicine.

Our TCC intern Roxy has been learning about medicinal plants in Alaska and would love to share them with you as a pop- up or a medicinal plant walk.

It’s the beginning of harvest season here at Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center! Our garden at the historic Go...
07/08/2025

It’s the beginning of harvest season here at Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center! Our garden at the historic Gould Cabin is used by our colleagues at Bread Line Inc. in the Stone Soup Cafe to feed our neighbors in the community who could use a good meal served with respect.

The Midnight Sun Festival is on here in downtown! The party won’t stop until it gets dark, which is about the middle of ...
06/21/2025

The Midnight Sun Festival is on here in downtown! The party won’t stop until it gets dark, which is about the middle of August. This event goes until midnight Saturday. The Interior is hopping - last night was the Goldpanners Midnight Sun Baseball Game, tonight is the Midnight Sun Run 10K, and so much more. We’ve got AC (and fabulous exhibits!) over here at Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center when you need a break from the heat.

Stop by Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center to enjoy the monthly Native Arts and Crafts Pop-Up at Denakkanaaga!...
05/07/2025

Stop by Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center to enjoy the monthly Native Arts and Crafts Pop-Up at Denakkanaaga! Mothers Day is here and graduations are happening, it's the perfect time to get a locally made gift that will be treasured for years to come.

We have a wonderful selection of beadwork, leatherwork, art, tools, and so many other great things to brighten your day.

In celebration of George Attla Jr. Day on April 29th,   Cultural Programs and the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors ...
04/29/2025

In celebration of George Attla Jr. Day on April 29th, Cultural Programs and the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center invite you to honor the legendary dog musher’s legacy through film.
Join us for a FREE, family-friendly screening of two powerful films that tell his story: Spirit of the Wind and Attla.

📍 Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center Theatre, Fairbanks

📽️ 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲
Spirit of the Wind – April 29, May 1 & 3 @ 2:00 PM
ATTLA – April 30, May 2 & 4 @ 2:00 PM

🎬 All are welcome—come celebrate the life and enduring spirit of the Huslia Hustler!

04/29/2025

In celebration of George Attla Jr. Day on April 29th, Cultural Programs and the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center invite you to honor the legendary dog musher’s legacy through film.

Join us for a FREE, family-friendly screening of two powerful films that tell his story: Spirit of the Wind and Attla.

📍 Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center Theatre, Fairbanks

📽️ 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲
Spirit of the Wind – April 29, May 1 & 3 @ 2:00 PM
ATTLA – April 30, May 2 & 4 @ 2:00 PM

🎬 All are welcome—come celebrate the life and enduring spirit of the Huslia Hustler!

At Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center on Saturday the 26th at 2:30 pm in our theater. Mary TallMountain (1918 ...
04/25/2025

At Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center on Saturday the 26th at 2:30 pm in our theater.

Mary TallMountain (1918 - 1994) was only six years old when she was adopted out of her village. Writing and a strong grounding in her Native culture helped her endure many traumas until she was finally able to come home to Nulato 50 years later. Hearing Mary’s story will help people recognize the healing power of their own stories.

Script by Anne Hanley based on the writings of Mary TallMountain, produced by Sharon McConnell, and directed by Allan Hayton.

Address

101 Dunkel Street
Fairbanks, AK
99701

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm
Saturday 8am - 6pm
Sunday 8am - 6pm

Telephone

(907) 459-3700

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Our Story

This is A Place for Gathering, Discovery, Education, and Celebration!

Since 1998 three separate organizations in Interior Alaska dreamed of a beautiful space in which they could easily meet the needs of those they served. Explore Fairbanks and the Alaska Public Lands Information Center (APLIC) talked of sharing a new facility that would inspire residents and visitors to get out and explore Interior and Arctic Alaska. At the same time, Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC)dreamed of having a cultural center to preserve Athabascan languages, carry-on traditional knowledge through Elder teachings, and instill confidence and pride in Alaska Native youth. It was Alaska’s Congressional delegation, led by Senator Ted Stevens, who suggested these three entities work together to plan and build a joint facility.

To some, it was an unlikely partnership. But leaders from each partner agency rolled up their sleeves and immersed themselves in the business of building, planning and raising funds for construction. Now that we’ve opened, facility operation and maintenance costs are shared. The vision of working together remains strong.

The sum of this partnership is truly greater than its individual parts. The synergy of working together has created a world class visitor center at a price none could afford on their own. Partner activities and programs complement each other in a way that allows each distinct organization to better fulfill its individual mission.