On Display
The Haines Sheldon Museum features three exhibit galleries: the Main Gallery displays large history exhibits; the Hakkinen Gallery features small art, history and craft exhibits that change every six to eight weeks, and the museum classroom. Learn more about these spaces and discover what is currently on display!
In the Main Gallery
“The Shape of Passage: Lifeways Between Land & Sea”
Curated by Andrea Nelson
People are a product of place. Population densities, settlement patterns, subsistence orientation, economies, social structure and even concepts of god are influenced by geography and its resources. Even a quick panoramic glance around the local watershed reflects a particular resplendence. This place is special. Natural forces and human migrations have shifted the land and culture from the earliest days. But people are like the glaciers and rivers carving the land: even as shapes shift, essence is retained.
In the Hakkinen Gallery
Our rotating exhibit space, the Hakkinen Gallery, features temporary installations that change on a variable basis. The space, named in honor of our founder, Elizabeth “Lib” Sheldon-Hakkinen, features small historical exhibits from the permanent collection, art installations, and traveling exhibits from other institutions.
Our current exhibit is “Carol Clifton: A Life’s Work” featuring 78 paintings by the longtime Haines resident. After Carol’s passing in early 2026, the Clifton family reached out to the museum and Donna Catotti, who curated the show. Carol’s work has been featured in several solo art shows, in galleries around town, in the Alaska governor’s mansion, in several Portrait Society of America shows, and in numerous businesses and homes in the area. The show is running through the end of September and all pieces are a part of an ongoing silent auction to fulfill the Clifton’s family mission of finding loving homes for all of Carol’s work.
We accept applications from local artists for the Spotlight Series. “Spotlight” exhibits generally feature multiple works by an individual artisan who resides in Haines or Klukwan. If you are a Chilkat Valley artist, and would like to apply, please call Haines Sheldon Museum (907-766-2366) and we will provide you with the complete application.
Sheldon Museum Classroom
The museum classroom is adjacent to the main gallery and is a large room available for educational and instructional purposes. This private space is equipped with tables and chairs and will soon have digital access for web based instruction.
The classroom rental rate is $10/use. Classes that are ongoing in the classroom will be promoted by the museum’s marketing department, and teacher’s will have materials storage options.
To reserve the classroom please email operations@sheldonmuseum.net.