Unalaska, AK – The Museum of the Aleutians is hosting the joint annual conference of the Alaska Historical Society and Museums Alaska this week. Over 115 museum professionals, historians, educators, and others will visit the community and attend a lectures and discussions.

"The leading historians, the leading writers, museum professionals, people who have contributed immensely to the history of Alaska and of our region in particular will be coming here and discussing topics that are related to the history of our region," said MOTA director Zoya Johnson.

She said planning the logistics of the event, including booking rooms a year in advance, coordinating transportation around the community, and working with other local organizations, took almost a year.

"It is quite an effort to take care of 115 people who will be here for four days. And we want them to take back only positive emotions, positive experiences so that we will get them to come back and so that the word will spread all over the state what kind of wonderful community we are."

This year's conference themes are "Where East meets West" and "Nature, Culture, History, Museums." Session topics range from Russian America, spiritual representations in art, predator control, and images of the Aleutians.

The key note lecture on Unangan and Alutiiq treasures in Russian collections is free and open to the public on Thursday at 7 pm at the school auditorium. Other community events include the opening reception from 6 to 8 pm on Wednesday at the Grand Aleutian and a community science night at the school with a free demonstration of the traveling planetarium at 6:30 to 8:30 pm, also on Wednesday.