The new Morris Thompson Center will show off the uniqueness of Interior Alaska
January 1, 1970
A cultural and visitors center inspired by the life and contributions of the late Native leader Morris Thompson has opened in Fairbanks with funding assistance from the cruise industry.
Located on the banks of the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks, the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center will introduce visitors to the lands of Interior Alaska and the people who live there.
"This Center will bridge the cultural gaps in Alaska. It will depict the way we make a living in Alaska. It will depict the rivers we depend on for subsistence, commerce and recreation. It will depict the people like Morris who prove one person can make a difference," said Orie Williams, Doyon Ltd. Board Member.
The center will provide visitor information, trip planning services, exhibits, a theater, an artisans' workshop and demonstration area, an Elders' gathering area, cultural and environmental education classrooms and outdoor recreational space.
The $26 million facility represents an extraordinary partnership of the public and private sector and Alaska Native and non-Native organizations working together to celebrate all that is unique and special about Interior Alaska and to build Alaska's tourism economy.
It also combines the resources and missions of three outreach organizations to co-locate under one roof to serve visitors and area residents alike. The three partners include the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau (FCVB), the Alaska Public Lands Information Center and Tanana Chiefs Conference.
More information about the center is available at www.morristhompsoncenter.org.