Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center
http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/index.html
“The Arctic Studies Center invites you to explore the history of northern peoples, cultures, and environments and the issues that matter to northern residents today. Join us as we excavate arctic sites; support indigenous efforts to preserve cultural heritage; and work with communities and scholars to share the treasures preserved in museum collections and archives.”
Visiting the Arctic Studies Center website, visitors come face-to-face with the history of the North American and Siberian Arctic regions. During this encounter, the visitor explores the rich cultures, histories, wild life, and geography of the region. To enhance this experience, the web site provides a sweeping array of images, videos, and virtual tours. These interactive features make the website especially attractive. By reading extracts from explorers’ and anthropologists’ original documents, readers also have the opportunity to discover the initial reactions of Russian and American colonists to the region and its inhabitants. In addition to European and American experiences within this region, the Arctic Studies Center website offers an insight into the indigenous cultures. On-line displays of various tribal artifacts bring the ancient cultures to life and portray living native peoples in their cultural settings. he exhibition of the Yamal expedition to Siberia is another place of interest. Here, students and teachers can learn about a living indigenous culture that still maintains a traditional way of life. Last, but definitely not least, the website provides an interesting exhibit on the Ainu, thus opening students’ perspectives on indigenous Japanese cultures. Overall, this website provides an enjoyable experience as one lingers in the Arctic.