I checked in with Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport yesterday, asking after the status of some of the taxidermy animals I remember seeing on my last pass through.
Turns out the record-setting polar bear is not currently on display, but many othre specimens are still there.
Sharing some of my snaps from a while back. Not shown: a record-setting halibut and a big moose.
If you pass through, please share snaps of what you see.
And let us know how you feel about seeing taxidermy animals in airports…
They’d started drinking long before the midnight flight departed and kept at it until shortly before we touched down in Seattle.
I’m sure a lot of those guys missed their connecting flights. And I doubt any of them took the time to explore the Anchorage airport (beyond the bar) before they left.
If they had, they’d have seen great Native Art, an exhibit about the Alaskan Flag and a wonderful collection of taxidermy wildlife that includes muskox, polar bears and this record-size Kodiak Brown Bear, killed in 1997.
Seattle-based writer Pam Mandel of Nerds Eye View recently spent some time in Alaska (you can see her report and her photos on her blog) and was kind enough to snap a few Souvenir Sunday photos at the airport on her way home.
Each Sunday here at Stuck at the Airport is Souvenir Sunday – the day we take a look at some of the inexpensive, offbeat and “of” the city souvenirs for sale at airports. Pam spotted this postcard attached to some sourdough bread starter (under $3) .
And packages of both moose and bear “droppings” for the Stuck at The Airport collection of airport “poop” candy:
Ted Stevens, the former senator from Alaska who died in a plane crash earlier this week, had the pleasure of seeing a lot of things named for him while he was alive.
The terminal offers free wireless Internet access and is home to the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame and an impressive display of Alaska Native Art.
photo courtesy Kathy Gronau
Photo courtesy Kathy Gronau
It’s been a while since I’ve been up there, but I’m planning to head that way soon.
If for no other reason than to wander the terminal checking out the airport’s collection of taxidermy Black Bears, Kodiak Brown Bears, Polar Bears and a Musk Ox.
You’d think snow – even a spring snowstorm – wouldn’t get much attention in Alaska. But last Friday the folks in Anchorage got hit with enough snow to set a record for the day and for the month.
According to the National Weather Service, which has an office near the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, 17.2 inches of snow fell in Anchorage and 22 inches of snow fell in northeast Anchorage on Friday and Saturday.
In any “normal” city, that amount of snow would shut down the airport.
Not in Anchorage.
In fact snow has never shut down the airport.
Ever.
And that’s probably why the airport sent out a press release reminding the world that the airport is a four-time recipient of the Balchen/Post award for excellence in the performance of airport snow and ice control.
