Enjoying Arts and Dances at the Alaska Native Medical Centre, Anchorage, Alaska

We visited the Alaska Native Medical Centre in Anchorage

While visiting Alaska, we have learned a lot about this American state and its native people inhabiting in this region.

ANMC - A beautiful non profit medical facility in Alaska!

We enjoyed talking to the local people asking them for advice of what to see and where to visit.





















One of the places recommended to us was the Alaska Native Medical Centre.

Entrance to the Alaska Native Medical Centre

This local American native person informed us that the Alaska Native Medical Centre was more than just a health centre.

Sculptures hanging from the ceiling of the entrance

It is a centre full of arts and sculptures related to native cultures and traditions.

Native arts adorned the walls of the Alaska Native  Medical Centre

He told us that it was worth a visit just to see the art.

















Being interested in multicultural arts and traditions, we went to visit the Alaska Native Medical Centre.

































We were not disappointed at all!

It was full of native arts and sculptures the moment we stepped into the centre starting right at the entrance.














There were sculptures depicting the way of life of the indigenous people living in the north such as this sculpture telling the story of a walrus hunt.

The Alaska Native Medical Centre provides medical service to about 150,000 Alaska Native Americans.

This 160 bed hospital achieved the Magnet Status of nursing excellence.

A beautiful Gift Shop selling native arts and souvenirs at the ANMC.

The Magnet Status is a status  achieved by only 7% of all the hospitals in the USA.


















Opened in 1997, the building's construction was supervised by Native Alaskan Leaders.















These leaders sought the integration of Native traditional material, finishes, crafts and art displays inside the building.

Their involvement and thoughtfulness of the native arts and cultures were evident throughout the medical building.

We marveled at and appreciated  the beauty and spirit represented by the variety of art displays.






















 The Alaska native Medical Centre is a beautiful and well equipped facility.

We visited the food court and the outdoor patio on the main floor.
















 We enjoyed our refreshments in the nice courtyard.

Containers of bright colour flowers were placed on every table in the courtyard.

Waiting area at the Alaska Native Medical Cenre

Our most favourite part of the Alaska Native Medical Centre was the spacious waiting area.

It was built in the shape of a traditional native dwelling.

A group of dancers practices their dancing at the Medical Centre every Wednesday evening.

Patients and visitors joined in the dancing.

Every Wednesday evening, a group of Native dancers practices dancing in the waiting area to cheer up the patients there.




What a fantastic idea!

Everyone seemed to enjoy the song and dance, including us!

We learned about this Wednesday dance practices from our conversation with a local native person a couple of days ago.

Therefore, we went there to catch this free performance. Everyone, including us, were enjoying this wonderful  celebration of song and dance at the medical centre.

Our first such experience at a hospital!

We were glad that we went to the Medical Centre. It was like visiting a museum of native arts! Totally enjoyed it!


R.T.
Alaska Native Medical Centre
Anchorage, USA

Wildlife Watching at Potter Marsh Boardwalk, Anchorage, Alaska

Driving back on the Seward Highway heading towards Anchorage, we saw a beautiful area with a long boardwalk Out of curiosity, we stopped and took a look.

We were at Potter Marsh, just outside of Anchorage.

About a 15 minutes drive from downtown Anchorage, Potter Marsh is Anchorage's most popular wildlife haven.

Potter Marsh, near Anchorage, Alaska.

Potter Marsh Boardwalk, 15 minute drive from Anchorage, Alaska

Potter Marsh was  unintentional created during the construction of the Alaska Railroad.

It is one of the most accessible attractions of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge.

Potter Marsh is a small part of the 32,500 acre refuge.

The boardwalk of Potter March, Anchorage, Alaska, was a nice easy walk

Potter Marsh covers about 500 acres of marsh land with an elevated wooden boardwalk about half a mile in length.

Lots of interesting information posted on the boardwalk 

This rich habitat is important for numerous migratory birds, waterfowls, nestling birds, and other animals, large and small.

Many birds fly to this area because of its abundant resources of food due to Alaska's long summer.


There were a few lookout points.














We took our time enjoying the nice easy walk and read the abundant information posted along the boardwalk about the wildlife in the area.




















Wheel chair friendly, the Potter Marsh boardwalk has few stairs.

















We enjoyed the scenery on the boardwalk and tried to identified some birds we saw in this wildlife refuge.

Potter Marsh, a family friendly place for people with all walking abilities to stroll, enjoy the scenery, look for wildlife and learn about the animals.

There is a washroom facility on site. Free admission and free parking too!

It is an educational and informative walk for us. A great place to visit in Anchorage!


R.T.
Potter Marsh
Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Girdwood, A Small Town Near Anchorage, Alaska

After our hike on the Bird Creek trail, we continued our day on the Seward Highway in Alaska.

While in Alaska, we were awed by the majestic mountain ranges.




















We stopped a few times and savouring the natural beauty of the wilderness,

We could just sit and enjoy the magnificent scenery of Alaska all day.
















We drove by some small communities.

Girdwood, is a community of  about 2000 people in Alaska.

This was where we stopped for a pizza lunch.

One thing that struck us about Girdwood was that we could see glaciers everywhere we turned in this small town.

 Girdwood is surrounded by seven glaciers!



















It has also been rebuilt from a serious earthquake from the 1960's.

R.T.
Girdwood, Alaska