Juneau, Alaska

 Juneau. September 27, 2021. 2 PM till 10:30 PM

Please revise comments and dates

Today we visited Juneau , Alaska’s capital and third largest city. It is known for the Mendenhall Glacier, it’s gold mining history, the Tlingit First Nation, and it’s two colorful sourdough pioneers Joe Juneau and Richard Harris. Glacier hiking, whale-watching, gold panning, dog-sledding, salmon bakes, and sea kayaking are some of most popular tourist activities.

Is is accessible ONLY by air or sea.

With its mountain-side location, Juneau is a city full of contrasts. It’s historic downtown buildings giving it a frontier feeling while modern architecture of some of its buildings project a cosmopolitan energy. 

————

I added in the following paragraph presuming I would visit this museum. Alas, it was closed both times I was there because the ship stopped in Monday both times—when this museum is closed. I’m lucky I found the other museum of Juno and Alaskan history and culture.

The stunning completely remodeled Alaska state Museum is a 20-minute walk from the ship and well worth the visit. It’s natural history exhibit included preserved brown bears and a two-story high Eagle nesting tree. There were also Russian-American and gold rush displays, artifacts from Native American cultures including a walrus hide boat, and of course several contemporary art collections. I could easily have spent more time but stayed until they closed.

————-

From our naturalist presenter Mary Amanda, I learned the treatment of Native Americans in Alaska was comparable to the treatment of Blacks in the lower 48. They were completely excluded from most public spaces, including restaurants, hotels, stores, and movie theaters. She even showed us signs that said “no Natives; no dogs.” A brave educated and accomplished woman, Elizabeth P championed  the cause of equality and invested her energy and resources to help pass civil rights legislation for Native Americans in 1945, 20 years before the lower 48 decided to do the right thing and past civil rights laws. She fought against powerful well-connected voraciously bigoted white supremacists in the legislature and triumphed after more than one try.

The Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most visited drive up glaciers. It contains the visitor center with an elevated viewing platform, multiple nature trails, spectacular views of lakes and mountains, and many opportunities to view spawning salmon and bears there to eat them.

Because it rained today, I plan to visit the Mendenhall Glacier next week on my second Alaska cruise. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate for a visit to this wonderful glacier.

I had planned to take the Roberts tramway up to the viewing area on Mount Roberts, that provides a 1800 foot high view of the sea and the mountains. 

Here was how my day actually unfolded:

I took a nice stroll through the downtown area visiting some of the historic landmarks and buildings. I had a nice visit in the Juneau-Douglas city Museum. Among the exhibits I saw were those about the local mining, lumber, fishing, and aviation industries. The museum tells the story of the Tlingit  indigenous people and even focuses on Alaska’s civil rights movement and it’s hero Elizabeth P., whose testimony and tireless fight for equality, led to the passing of the states civil rights laws in 1945.

As always, I learned a lot by visiting this museum that tells the story of the local history and culture

As this journey continues, I have come to appreciate why so many people have taken multiple Alaska cruises!!!!

Here is a photo of me in front of my (second) cruise ship to Alaska—this week, The ovation of the seas. Behind that ship, is the celebrity millennium that I took on my cruise to Alaska last week.