Inupiat Heritage Center
By Stephanie
Many Alaskan Natives, particularly Inupiat Eskimo people participated
in commercial whaling. The Inupiat Heritage Center in Barrow, Alaska
was designated an affiliated area of New Bedford Whaling National Historical
Park in New Bedford, Massachusetts to ensure that the contributions of
Alaska Natives to the history of whaling is recognized.
The Federal Government does not own or manage the Heritage Center.
The site where 31 ships sank in a single event has the potential to provide a massive amount of information about the nineteenth century commercial whaling industry in the Artic. The site will be investigated using a combination of technology including side scan sonar provided by the Navy and stereoscopic video images from cameras mounted on an underwater robot provide by NASA.
Like many national parks, landmarks are the nation's places of history. The National Park Service administers the Landmark Program. There are more than 2,000 Landmark properties nationwide and 47 in Alaska. National Historic Landmarks are places that possess exceptional value and quality in illustrating and interpreting the heritage of the United States.
The Inupiat Heritage Center dedicated in February 1999, houses exhibits, artifacts collections, library, gift shop and a traditional room where people can demonstrate and teach traditional crafts in Elders-in-Residence and Artists-in-Residence Programs. The Heritage Center is one of several partners associated through New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park legislation, who participate in telling the story of commercial whaling in the United States.
In conclusion, the Inupiat Heritage Center is an interesting, educational, and fun place to go through. I have never been, but have read about.
Sources
www.nps.gov/inup/index.htm
www.quest.arc.nasa.gov/artic/explore/nps_pr.html