Bering Land Bridge National Preserve Celebrates Grand Opening of New Heritage Center

NOME, Alaska, Sept. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bering Land Bridge National Preserve today celebrates the grand opening of the new Bering Land Bridge Heritage Center. This innovative and newly renovated space showcases culturally rich and engaging exhibits collaboratively developed with a dedicated Tribal Workgroup, including tribal members from Shishmaref, Wales, and Deering.

Starting Saturday, September 6, visitors can experience an array of exciting features within the Heritage Center, including:

• Inupiaq Language Learning Opportunities: Interactive displays that invite guests to immerse themselves in reading, listening to, and learning Inupiaq, a language that is considered endangered and is being preserved through cultural centers.
  
  
• Authentic Fish Rack: Constructed by local builder Jared Miller and in partnership with Kawerak, this striking piece is made with driftwood from Sitnasuaq (Nome) and reflects both traditional and contemporary subsistence practices.
  
  
• Niġipiaq Table: A delectable showcase featuring replica foods that highlight the region's culinary traditions.
  
  
• Regional Artwork: Curated in partnership with the Sitnasuak Native Corporation Elders Committee, the center displays incredible pieces that celebrate local culture and history.
  
  
• Animated Display: A brief animation illustrating landscape changes within Beringia over time.
  
  
• Cultural Videos: Inspiring films that share the significance of the area, offering visitors a deeper understanding of Inupiaq culture and subsistence activities throughout the year.
  
  
• Animal Silhouettes: Life-size animal silhouettes adorned with vibrant artwork created by youth artists from Shishmaref, Wales, Deering, and Nome greet guests at the center's entrance.

"The new heritage center at Bering Land Bridge National Preserve is a mammoth step in honoring the stories, traditions, and knowledge of our local communities, said Jeanette Koelsch, Superintendent of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. "Whether from the region or traveling from afar, people can gain a deeper understanding of the preserve's natural history and cultural richness— a heritage that reaches back to time immemorial and continues to shape our world today." This project signifies a remarkable partnership with Sitnasuak Native Corporation and was made possible through the generous support of the National Park Foundation and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

"The National Park Foundation is proud to support the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve Heritage Center — a space to come together and connect with one of America's most remote landscapes and the rich heritage it holds," said Jeff Reinbold, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. "This center embodies what our national parks represent: living stories that unite us and illuminate the resilience of cultures, communities, and landscapes. As our nation's 250th anniversary approaches, we remain dedicated to ensuring these stories endure as sources of inspiration and connection for generations to come."

Bering Land Bridge National Preserve protects a small remnant of the land bridge that connected Asia and North America more than 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. The preserve offers unparalleled opportunities to experience vast arctic and coastal ecosystems, which are the homeland of the Inupiat.

Visitors can access the Bering Land Bridge Heritage Center in the Sitnasuak Building at 214 Front Street in Nome, AK. For more information about the center and its hours, contact Katie Cullen at [email protected], call 907-759-8020, or visit www.nps.gov/bela.

SOURCE National Park Foundation