Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre in the Yukon's capital city Whitehorse has reopened following an extensive six-month renovation. Owned and operated by Government of Yukon, the centre is the only museum in Canada to focus entirely on the last great Ice Age.

The revamped centre now offers visitors a more immersive exploration of the Yukon's Ice Age history. The focus of the renovation was to bring the museum to life with new stunning murals, multimedia displays and interactive exhibits where visitors can get hands-on with the fossils. Enhancements at the centre include three interactive science stations, a 40-foot-long hand-painted mural depicting the animals and plants of Beringia through time, and a new kids' play area inspired by the vast and rugged Yukon landscape.

The first people in Yukon migrated from Asia near the end of the Ice Age. The centre's new exhibits further showcase how the Yukon First Nations people have inhabited the territory for time immemorial and how they developed the distinct lifestyle and culture through their connection to the land that still exists in the Yukon today.

Dr Grant Zazula, palaeontologist for the Government of Yukon, worked closely with the Beringia Centre and the Yukon First Nations to develop a list of fossils to be featured in the new exhibit. The museum traces the history of mammals in the Yukon and one of the highlights to be discovered in the new museum is a 1.5-million-year-old caribou bone, the oldest in the Arctic and the only fossil whitefish in the world. Visitors will also get the chance to observe mammoth teeth from the very first mammoths to cross into North America from Asia via the Bering Land Bridge. Giant camel fossils unearthed in 1968 and a jawbone from a prehistoric species of giant beaver can also be found in the centre.

Zazula said: “As a palaeontologist, it's truly exciting to see the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre showcase such an impressive collection of fossils from our region. Many of these fossils would not be on display without the invaluable assistance of Yukon First Nations and placer miners. It's through their dedication and support that we're able to share these treasures with the public. These fossils offer a window into the ancient world, allowing us to better understand the diverse life forms that thrived during the Ice Age.”

Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre General Manager Christie Grekul, said: “Our knowledge of the ice age has expanded rapidly since the centre opened in 1997, so it was time to change the exhibits, modernise them, increase their interactivity and incorporate new fossils and Yukon stories. The new exhibits represent a significant milestone in our mission to share the story of Beringia and the Ice Age with Yukoners and visitors to the territory. While the Ice Age may have come to an end thousands of years ago, relics of this period are still visible around the Yukon. It's our hope that our new exhibits will help people better recognize and appreciate some of these features and inspire young minds to become archaeologists, geologists or palaeontologists.”

John Streicker, Minister of Tourism and Culture at Government of Yukon, said: “The grand reopening of the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre represents a significant achievement in preserving and sharing the history of the Yukon. Not only does it provide an enriching experience for visitors of all ages, but it is also a clear testament to the tireless dedication and passion of the team behind it. Plus, kids will think it's awesome.”

About the Yukon:

Situated in the upper Northwest corner of Canada, next to Alaska, the Yukon is Canada's most accessible northern destination. It is home to Canada's highest mountain (Mount Logan) and the planet's largest non-polar icefields located in Kluane National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage site. One of North America's most undiscovered destinations; close to 80 percent remains pristine wilderness with 5,000-metre peaks, forested valleys, unspoiled waters and untamed wildlife. Roughly the size of Spain at just over 186,000 square miles, the Yukon is home to more than 220,000 caribou, 70,000 moose, 22,000 mountain sheep, 7,000 grizzly bears, 10,000 black bears and 250 species of birds, with a human population of only 45,000.

For further information on the Yukon, visit www.travelyukon.com