Looking Both Ways: Heritage and Identity of the Alutiiq People

Combining archaeology, history and oral tradition, Looking Both Ways is a community-based exhibition planned in collaboration with the Alutiiq people of southern Alaska. The exhibition and companion volume retrace the compelling history of the Alutiiq people, examining the changing meanings of their culture and identity. Explore the exhibit online to learn more about Alutiiq culture and history.

Ainu: Spirit of a Northern People

The Ainu, the only native people of Japan, have long fascinated western scientists, and the Japanese themselves. In 1999, the Natural History Museum opened a major exhibition, Ainu: Spirit of a Northern People. Featuring over 200 objects, including stunning modern art works, the exhibition is now available as an online tour, guided by the exhibition curators. A 464 page, beautifully illustrated volume, was also produced in conjunction with the exhibition.

Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga

1000 years ago, Leif Eriksson became the first European to reach North American soil. Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga illuminates the origins and impact of this pivotal moment in history, shedding light on the Vikings and their expansion across the Atlantic from Scandinavia. Retrace the Viking voyages through the online exhibit or delve deeper into Viking history, culture and their contact with Native peoples in the companion catalogue.

Agayuliyararput (Our Way of Making Prayer)
The Living Tradition of Yup'ik Masks

An exhibition of more than 200 masks, Agayuliyararput, Our Way of Making Prayer is the first major exhibition of Yup'ik Eskimo material planned by Alaska Native people in collaboration with the museum community. The masks are presented in the context of the dances, stories and complex cosmology of the people who created them, the Yupiit of southwestern Alaska. Discover more about Yup'ik masks and ceremonial objects in the catalogue or in the online exhibit.

Crossroads of Continents: Cultures of Siberia and Alaska

The rugged and remote lands and waters of the North Pacific are not at all like the barren wastelands described by early European explorers and cartographers. For at least the past 16,000 humans have adapted to the harsh climate of the region, making a bountiful living from the abundant natural resources of Bering Strait. Crossroads of Continents celebrates the wide diversity and common ancestry of these North Pacific cultures, providing an entirely new understanding of the peoples on both sides of Bering Strait. Tour the online exhibit http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/features/croads or companion publication and investigate the beauty, history and cultural diversity of the North Pacific.