UAF museum to hold open house

FAIRBANKS - The University of Alaska Fairbanks' Museum of the North is inviting the public to attend its annual open house.

Museum officials say the free event is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Officials say the open house is an opportunity for the public to see the museum behind the scenes.

People will get to visit research labs on self-guided tours. They can visit a climate-controlled room where 1.4 million specimens and artifacts are housed. They also can tour the specimen preparation labs.

Children will get to help build an origami butterfly display as a preview for a temporary butterfly pavilion the museum plans to install in the fall.

A special exhibit also is opening Saturday. It is called "Gathering of Gifts: Relationships That Build the Museums Collections."