Mat-Su Valley Blog

On a rainy Monday morning, the future of Independence Mine got a lot brighter. Walter Panzirer, trustee from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, was on hand at the Manager's House to announce the philanthropic organization was awarding a $1.3 million grant through a partnership with...

What’s old is new again, just in time for the holiday season. When the Matanuska Colony was formed in the 1930s the federal government distributed Bingles to residents, and they could only be used in the Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation commissary and store. After two years, the government...

Palmer's history comes alive in a new photo collection project by the Palmer Museum of History and Art. The Matanuska Valley Historical Photo Project is an online database that is available to the public that contains the best photographs from the museum's collection of more than 10,000. The...

Visitors to Independence Mine can explore more than ever before thanks to new private and customizable tours being offered by Salmon Berry Tours, the park's concessionaire this summer. Salmon Berry Tours currently has three buildings open to the public - there is no cost (other than parking) to...

Want to know more about Palmer's history as part of the Matanuska Colonist project? Or are you interested in Wasilla's gold mining history? Perhaps Alaska's aviation history, or the culture of mountain climbing in Talkeetna? Luckily, all that and more can be found at one of the many museums around...

May 1 is officially Agriculture Appreciation Day in Alaska, and that takes on special meaning particularly for the Mat-Su Valley, as Palmer is the agriculture hub of the state. The history of farming in Palmer dates back to the Matanuska Colony project, in which more than 200 families were relocated...

When it comes to performing arts, there are plenty of options in the Mat-Su Valley, and a host of venues that are as amazing as they are unique. Leading the way is Valley Performing Arts, which has been bringing top-level theater to the Mat-Su Valley for 42 years. Each season, VPA puts on seven...

Visitors looking for information on the best places to stay, local's favorite restaurants and can't miss attractions have plenty of options in the Mat-Su Valley, and you'll find a friendly face ready to help you with your planning. In Palmer, make sure you visit the Palmer Visitor Center, which is...

The Mat-Su Valley has long had a rich agricultural history, and that history is getting a new chapter with two exciting developments in the last few weeks. Palmer's agricultural history can be traced back to 1935, when more than 200 families were relocated to the area to establish an...