Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre
Alaska Hwy, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 6E6, Canada
The Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, located in Whitehorse, Yukon, is a museum dedicated to the study and presentation of Beringia—a vast subcontinent that once connected North America and Asia during the last Ice Age. The Centre offers visitors an immersive experience into this prehistoric era, showcasing life-size exhibits of Ice Age animals, interactive displays, and dioramas depicting the unique landscape of Beringia.
One of the Centre's highlights is a full-size cast of the largest woolly mammoth ever recovered in North America. Additionally, visitors can explore a reconstruction of the Bluefish Caves archaeological site, one of the oldest in the Yukon, and view the Yukon Horse exhibit, which contains the 26,000-year-old remains of the most complete and best-preserved specimen of a mummified extinct large mammal ever found in Canada.
In June 2023, the Centre reopened after significant renovations, introducing new fossils, multimedia experiences, and a realistic mural. The updated exhibits trace the history of mammals in the Yukon from about 1.5 million years ago to the present day, featuring fossils such as ancient mammoth teeth, giant camel bones, and a jawbone from a prehistoric species of giant beaver. These additions provide a deeper understanding of the region's prehistoric past and its significance in the broader narrative of human and animal migration.
The Centre's building, originally constructed in 1992 as the Yukon Visitor Reception Centre, is notable for its unique architecture. Designed to be both eye-catching and memorable, the structure features soaring Douglas fir glulam beams, a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, and a curved copper roof. Despite initial controversy over its design, the building has won several architectural awards, including the Governor General's Medal of Excellence in 1997.
Owned and operated by the Government of Yukon, the Centre is the only museum in Canada focused on the last great Ice Age. Since its opening, it has welcomed over 350,000 visitors, sharing the unique ice age heritage of the Yukon through its exhibits and programs.
