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Katmai National Park & PreserveBear Orientation Room
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Katmai National Park & Preserve
Collections
 
The seal bone pictured here is an otolith, or ear bone.
This bone harpoon and seal ear bone are more than
6,000 years old. Fragile items like these must be
carefully conserved.
 

The Katmai National Park and Preserve museum collection consists of more than 400,000 objects—from an paleontological samples to 9,000-year-old artifacts. Collections staff also care for historic photographs, tapes and transcripts of oral history interviews, park archives, preserved small mammals, and other items reflecting the cultural and natural history of this unique place.

As of 2006, items in the collection are:
Archeological artifacts: 330,606
Ethnographic items: 64
Historical photos, artifacts, and documents: 3,181
Documents in the park archives: 82,795
Biological specimens: 2,050
Paleontological specimens: 133
Geological samples: 484
Total: 419,313

Many of these items are fragile and require special conservation. The museum specialists at Katmai National Park and Preserve ensure that these irreplaceable pieces of the past will be available to future generations.

The Alaska Natural History Association's Discover Alaska collection has logos for several parks and refuges.
Get the Katmai logo on a hat, patch, or pin.
The Alaska Natural History Association offers books and gifts relating to the park.
more...
Fording Windy Creek in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes  

Did You Know?
The only bridge in Katmai spans the Brooks River. All other rivers in the park must be crossed on foot or by boat. Be careful as heavy rains or melting snow can quickly cause the river to become uncrossable.

Last Updated: August 02, 2006 at 20:32 EST