Official websites use .gov
A .gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the
United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock
(
) or https:// means you've safely
connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only
on official, secure websites.
Summer Hours of Operation:
The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center summer hours (May 7 - Sep 30) are:
Sunday to Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturdays - 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The Discovery Center will be closed on all Federal holidays.
Fees and Passes
The entrance fee from May 1 to September 30 is $5.00. Local visitors may purchase a Discovery Center season pass for $15.00 which gets the cardholder and two others unlimited visits from May 1 to September 30. America the Beautiful passes can also be used for entry and are available for purchase. Find more information on our Fees & Passes page.
About Southeast Alaska Discovery Center
The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center is an Alaska Public Lands Information Center, the only one in Southeast Alaska. It is the gateway to the Tongass National Forest and offers over 20,000 square feet of exhibits highlighting the beauty, diversity, and history of the temperate rainforest that encompasses nearly 17 million acres. Located just a block from the cruise ship docks in downtown Ketchikan, the Discovery center is a popular destination for visitors and locals alike. Visitors can explore the fascinating ecology of the coastal rainforest, connect with the rich cultures of the region's native peoples, discover how people earn a living from nature, and experience Alaska's rainforest from the comfort of the 200-seat theatre through a variety of award-winning films. Ranger-led tours, map talks, and interpretive presentations are provided on an hourly basis.
Activities for Children
The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center offers a variety of activities for young visitors. Kids can test their skills and knowledge with a scavenger hunt or earn their Tongass Junior Ranger patch by completing assignments in our Tongass National Forest Junior Ranger Book. In addition, the Discovery Center offers two Agents of Discovery missions where kids can play augmented-reality games to sleuth out the truth about the Tongass National Forest. The Tongass Family Activity Book offers fun and enlightening activities for the whole family. More details are available on Just for Kids page.
Featured Films
Presently the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center features ten documentary films highlighting the natural and cultural wonders of the Tongass National Forest; the rich cultural legacy and struggles for justice of Native Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribes; the history, arts, and the people of Ketchikan; and many more. For more details and the full list of our featured films please visit the Film List page.
Festivals and Art Shows
The Alaska Hummingbird Festival Juried Art - April 7 through June 30
The show features the spring migratory birds of southeast Alaska through creative arts. Artwork from Alaskan artists will be on display through June 30.
Summer Art Exhibition – July 7 through September 30
This year the annual Summer Art Exhibition will feature Photos of the 49th: A Photographic Sampling of Alaska, by local photographer Don Twyman. Focusing on the diversity of wildlife and the vast openness of the land, Twyman introduces Alaska to visitors through his art.
Contacts:
For more information or questions please contact Art Davtian at 907-228-6290; artak.davtian@usda.gov or Hazel Brewi at 907-228-6246; hazel.brewi@usda.gov.
For media inquiries please contact the Tongass Public Affairs Officer at 907-617-2063 or paul.robbins@usda.gov.
