Museum Blog

Homerun for Patricia Wade!

Administrator — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:38:04 +0000

Thank you to all those who dropped by to listen to Patricia Wade! Everyone who attended, both young and old, had wonderful things to say about Patricia's presentation. She not only informed but entertained. We had such an unexpected crowd we had to bring up extra chairs from the basement! Hopefully, this will be the first of many programming we have with the people of Chickaloon Village. Thank you again, Patricia, for taking the time to spend the day with us and sharing a piece of your culture. The staff of PMHA enjoyed having you!

Thank You Pioneer Peak Elementary!!

Administrator — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:36:37 +0000

On behalf of the staff of the Palmer Museum and Visitor's Center, we would like to thank Mrs. Sweetser and Ms. Allen's class from Pioneer Peak Elementary for their generous donation. We love having school tours visit us during this time of year but groups like yours that go above and beyond deserve special recognition for supporting the museum. Thank you!!

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR VALLEY ARTISTS!

Administrator — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:12:57 +0000

The Palmer Museum of History and Art is searching for one lucky valley artist to be the first to participate in our Summer Museum Window Project. The artist will be given one of our museum windows (58” x 46”) as a canvas,tempera paints and a stipend of $300 to create an image that best illustrates the Palmer Museum and the City of Palmer. The painting will remain on the museum window throughout the next year which will allow visitors and the community of Palmer an opportunity to see the artist’s work. All interested artists should submit their design on an 81/2 “ X 11” piece of paper with a briefdescription of their intent. All submissions are due by June 2, 2012.

**your design could be in that left window!

ARTIST RECEPTION THIS SATURDAY!!

Administrator — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:54:55 +0000

Please join us in celebrating the artworks of Upcycle: The Art of Recycling this Saturday, May 12th from 2:00pm to 5:00 pm. Refreshments will be served while Valley Recycle will be on hand to answer questions about recycling in the valley. You can also come and create a flower display made out of recycled items just in time for Mother's Day. Hope to see you there!

Independence Mine Visitor's Center to open June16th!

Administrator — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:29:09 +0000

This year, the Independence Mine Visitor's Center is scheduled to open on June 16th, 2012. They will be open during the summer from 11:00 AM through 6:00 PM seven days a week. The Mine will have two scheduled tours of the interiors of the buildings daily but can accommodate tours outside of their schedule as well. This year, they will also have free gold panning lessons on site Saturdays between 11:00AM and 4:00PM. Until its opening date in June, visitors can drive up to the Independence Bowl parking lot just below the gate entrance to Independence Mine, pay $5 for parking and hike up to the mine buildings. A trip to Independence Mine is always worth it no matter what time of the year!

Museum Displays

Administrator — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:18:49 +0000

At the Palmer Museum, we have a series of displays that trace the history of habitation in the Matanuska Valley. Habitation began when the Ahtna Athabascans migrated to the valley and became the Chickaloon tribe. On display we have a traditional wedding dress, beaded moccasins, a copper cooking pot, and other articles from the Chickaloon tribe. Then history moves on to the mining days. George W. Palmer, who our town is named after, was the first white resident in the area, and was a prospector and merchant. On display, we have many of the tools used to mine coal north of Palmer in the Sutton area. The Matanuska Coloniztion Project follows the mining days. Palmer was born out of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal Program, which brought relief to Americans during the Great Depression. In 1935, 202 families were relocated to the Matanuska Valley to farm. On display we have many of the farming tools used by the colonists, including an old washing machine. The final piece of history covered by the museum displays concerns Matanuska Maid, the trade name for the items sold by the Matanuska Valley Farmers Cooperative Association. On display we have the orignal dress and bonnet worn by the Matanuska Maid.

Making History

Administrator — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:53:49 +0000

The Palmer Museum was able to display some of the Statehood Quilt, which commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Alaska becoming a state.