Hammer Museum, Tool museum in Haines, Alaska.
The Hammer Museum is a building in Haines dedicated to one simple tool, with more than 2,500 pieces displayed across six rooms. The collection includes examples from different times, trades, and parts of the world, showing how this basic tool changed shape and purpose.
This place opened in 2002 after its founder discovered a Tlingit tool while digging at the site, sparking the idea to collect and display hammers. The discovery connected the location to the region's indigenous history and shaped the museum's focus on this single tool.
The museum exhibits highlight the evolution of hammer designs across civilizations, from ancient Egyptian dolerite balls to modern industrial implements.
The museum operates from May through September, with longer hours on days when cruise ships arrive at the harbor. Visit in the afternoon for a quieter experience and time to look through the collection without crowds.
During excavation at the site, workers uncovered ceremonial tools that revealed a connection to the Tlingit warriors of the region. These indigenous artifacts now form a meaningful link between the modern collection and the ancient history of the place.
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