Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum
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Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum
The Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum contains one of the largest collections of Native Alaskan art and artifacts in the world. The Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum strives to foster a thirst for knowledge and appreciation of the value of historic and cultural arts and artifacts, as well as the natural world, through the eyes of our founding collectors.
The Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum at Prince William Sound College
The Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum contains one of the largest collections of Native Alaskan art and artifacts in the world. The Whitneys came to Alaska in 1947, and Maxine traveled to Native villages throughout the territory, buying items directly from the artists to sell in her gift shop. In 1969, Maxine assumed ownership of the Eskimo Museum in Fairbanks and continued collecting until the mid-1980s. The collection was donated by Ms. Whitney to Prince William Sound Community College in 1998. The artifacts were housed in a lovely climate-controlled facility at the Valdez Airport for ten years and now find a permanent home in our new state-of-the-art museum adjacent to the college. Since opening in May 2008, the professionally designed exhibits have garnered much attention from locals and visitors alike.
Contact Us
Museum & Community Engagement Coordinator Email
Main Phone: 907-834-1690
For event booking outside of normal operating hours, please contact the PWSC Business Office.
Hours
Summer Hours (May 6 through August 31):
- Monday-Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: Closed
Winter Hours: Call 907-834-1690 for an appointment.
Cost
Admission is free, but donations are always gratefully accepted.
Location
The Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum is located on campus at Prince William Sound College, 303 Lowe Street, Valdez, Alaska.