State library, archives, and museum mark ten years in shared Juneau building

The Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff Building — known during planning as SLAM, for State Library, Archives, and Museum — marks a decade since opening with a free family fair from 1 to 4 p.m. June 27 at its downtown Juneau plaza and atrium.

The APK opened June 6, 2016, consolidating Alaska's State Library, Archives, and Museum into a single $139 million facility seven times the size of the old state museum and designed to absorb 50 years of collections growth, according to news coverage from the opening by KTOO and the Juneau Empire. The state began working toward consolidation as early as 2002, when it bought the property. The Legislature formally named the building in 2015 after Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff, the Russian Orthodox priest who served as curator of Alaska's territorial library and museum from 1919 until his death in 1940.

Alaska's pre-statehood archives stretch back through the Russian period and territorial era, and the APK is the public access point for the whole collection — research center, exhibit galleries, conservation labs, and reading rooms under one roof.

The June 27 fair is built for general audiences. Activities include a marine mammal matching game, pop-up planetarium, yarn wish sticks, salmon hat crafting, pop art, bracelet making, and balloon animals. The Friends of the APK will provide anniversary cake while supplies last, with free books and sensory-table activities also available. No registration is required.

The Library, Archives, and Museum are divisions of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. The APK is at 395 Whittier Street in downtown Juneau.