Outside the Museum is the Harrington Cabin, telling many stories about the hard-working pioneers and homesteaders in the Kachemak Bay area. From hand tools and daily diaries to crochet work and kitchen supplies, the history of a self-reliant era encircles you with the clarity of a fossilized shell. Guided tours are available in the summer, and an oral history recording is available when a cabin interpreter is not present. Just outside, a small heirloom garden shows local varieties of produce that sustained these pioneers.
A botanical array of over 150 species grace the garden pathways during the summer. This habitat features only plant species native to the Kenai Peninsula: forget-me-nots and columbine, chocolate lilies and fireweed, cranberries and Labrador tea. Each turn of the trail opens to a new community of flora. Explore alpine, meadow, bog, forest and shoreline habitats with the aid of a written plant guide.
An interpretive and accessible trail system is located adjacent to the Museum with outdoor theater and annual art exhibits from June through September. Explore the forest in transition from dying old growth through bark-beetle kill, with emerging stands of newly released trees. The amphitheater hosts special events throughout the summertime.
