Museum offers free entry for federal employees affected by government shutdown

The University of Alaska Museum of the North and the Fairbanks Children's Museum are offering free admission for Federal employees who are affected by the government shutdown. UAMN Director Patrick Druckenmiller said they wanted to say thank you to federal employees for all they do and give them something to do for free while they are on furlough or to afford if they are working without pay. Federal employees affected by the shutdown can bring one guest for free as often as they would like to the Museum of the North through the end of January, but Druckenmiller said if the government shutdown continues past the end of January, they will consider extending the offer.

"There are a number of museums in the state and elsewhere in the nation who recognize that there's a lot of people with some extra time on their hands right now, so I think we have a common goal of helping people out in a time like this," said Druckenmiller.

Following the Museum of the North's lead, the Fairbanks Children's Museum is also offering free admission to federal employees affected by the shutdown and says at this point, this offer will continue the duration of the shutdown. Other businesses in town have been creating similar policies to help out federal employees during the shutdown.