The public will be able to tour the newly expanded Anchorage Museum for free today, following grand reopening ceremonies and a ribbon-cutting scheduled to start at noon.
The expansion includes new space for the museum's cafe, gift shop and archives on the first floor. The third floor will host visiting exhibits, with "Gold" from the American Museum of Natural History on display through Aug. 2. A fourth floor is showcasing photos and maps detailing the expansion process.
The museum was closed for the past two months as the new wing was completed. Most of it will also reopen today, including the Atrium, the Alaska Gallery of history on the second floor and the Art of the North Galleries on the first floor.
Paintings by Alaska's "old masters," including Sydney Laurence and Fred Machetanz, were removed from the Art of the North galleries during construction to keep them from being damaged. The rooms were given a thorough cleaning and stanchions were installed. The paintings all have now been returned to their places.
Closed are the galleries on the east side of the building, including the one used for children's exhibits. This space will become part of the Imaginarium component opening next year.
The second floor of the new wing is also closed; it will show contemporary Alaska Native art and house a collection of materials on long-term loan from the Smithsonian Institution and is also scheduled to open next year.
By MIKE DUNHAM
mdunham@adn.com