Northwest Arctic Heritage Center

Large, half-dome shaped, blue and grey building with just over 11,000 square feet of space. The museum space is just over 1,800 square feet and contains animal displays, soundscapes, tactile exhibits and more. The Heritage Center also contains a bookstore, restroom, art gallery, and sitting area. The Northwest Arctic Heritage Center serves as the visitor centers for the Western Arctic National Parklands: Kobuk Valley National Park, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, and Noatak National Preserve.

Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04

Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04

Visitors generally access the park via the regional hub in Kotzebue. Commercial airlines provide daily service from Fairbanks or Anchorage, to Kotzebue. Chartered flights with licensed air taxi services, booked in advance, can take backcountry travelers to remote destinations within the park.

An approximately 30 foot entrance ramp leads to main glass doorway. Upon entering the first door, you will be inside a small room with a glass wall and stuffed polar bear to your left and Alaskan map and mammoth tusk directly in front of you. Continue to your right approximately 14 feet to the next set of glass doors to enter the main visitor area of the building. A large map of the Western Arctic National Parklands is on your left and built in glass display case on your right displays cultural artifacts. Continue straight approximately 30 feet to reach a large regional map on your right, artist gallery and sitting area with couches and table and chairs directly in front of you, a large, wooden structure of a tradition umiaq (or boat) hanging from the vaulted ceiling 15 feet above you, and a Ranger desk and bookstore to your left. Continue past the Ranger desk to enter a short hallway. Approximately 9 feet to the left are the restrooms and water fountains; if you walk toward the restrooms, the women's are on the left, the men's on the right, with the water fountain in the middle against the wall. If you continue down the hallway next to the Ranger desk, the movie room will be on your right, approximately 6 feet passed the restrooms. This room is a large, mostly empty space with cultural posters and murals on the back walls and black chairs facing a large projector screen. Continuing down the hallway passed the movie room entrance approximately 15 feet, you will enter the museum. The museum is set up in a large oval shape approximately 55 feet long and 20 feet wide with display lining the outer walls and forming a small island in the middle . Continue around the room in a clockwise fashion by turning left upon entering. Throughout the room you will find displays of animals, plants, and cultural items as well as hands on activities and soundscapes.