Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center

Make Explore Fairbanks your first stop

Explore Fairbanks, located in the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center (MTCVC), is a great first stop for visitors in Fairbanks. With free admission, MTCVC serves as a place for gathering, discovery, education, and celebration, offering a treasure trove of information for all who visit.

The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center offers brochures, maps, free WiFi, and local walking and driving tours. Serving as the regional visitor facility, the friendly and knowledgeable staff have answers to all your questions. The free 9,000-square-foot exhibit hall features outstanding displays and dioramas showcasing Interior Alaska’s people, wildlife, landscapes and seasons. Enjoy free films and programs on Alaska’s natural and cultural history. Wander the grounds to discover outdoor sculptures and colorful, Athabascan-inspired mosaics adorning the walkways. Snap a selfie in front of the farthest north antler arch or the one-hundred-year-old log cabin. The center also has an artisans’ workshop, a planning area for outdoor excursions, cultural programs, and an Alaska Geographic store. The Center is home to Explore Fairbanks, Alaska Public Lands Information Center, Alaska Geographic, Denakkanaaga and Tanana Chiefs Conference Cultural Programs.

A smiling visitor center staff member at Explore Fairbanks assists a group of visitors, pointing to a map on the counter.

At the Morris Thompson Center, you can find:

Alaska Native Gift Shop: Features an extensive selection of Alaska Native handcrafts made by Denakkanaaga Elders and Tanana Chiefs Conference region artists.
Alaska Geographic Store: Offers an incredible selection of books, maps, and locally made gifts. A one-stop-shop for resources and souvenirs.
Explore Fairbanks: Provides excellent visitor information 7 days a week. Visitor Engagement Specialists are available to share expert trip planning advice.  
Tanana Chiefs Conference Cultural Programs: Develops programming to enhance and revitalize traditional cultural practices of Interior tribes.
Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center: National Park Service staff are available to provide public land information, maps, trip-planning assistance, and resource education. Make sure to get your NPS passport stamped!
Exhibits: How We Live: The People and the Land, tells the story of Interior Alaska’s history and people. This immersive multimedia display features the sounds and sights of Alaska. Visitors are greeted with a raven’s call, Athabascan fiddle music, the deep roar of a float plane taking off, and the bold honking of migrating geese. The exhibits also feature a replica fish camp, hunting camp, public use cabin, and film screenings.