William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery — Attraction in Alaska

If you’re reading this you’re either super into fish or looking for something fun to do while in Anchorage and I’ll tell you, this is the place for both.

While this is a legit functioning hatchery, they’ve really made this place into a fun and interactive learning facility. I had no idea what to expect so I’ll just walk you through my journey.

My group showed up and found plenty of parking and was greeted by amazing works of fish art. There were many signs posted that explain the history and purpose of the hatchery. Upon entering you immediately see fish tanks with an assortment of fish.

The hatchery is on two levels. The working portion is on the first floor and the walkthrough museum style tour is on the second level. There is an elevator available at the entrance and the exit of the hatchery for wheelchair accessibility.

The second floor is where all the magic happens. There are several displays and videos playing at any given moment that explain types of salmon, purposes of hatcheries, history of the hatchery and its purpose, and so much more. I don’t want to give it all away because it is really fun to learn all about fishing.

There are several windows peeking down into the hatchery process. I don’t know if we came at good or bad time but they did have several vats full of fish they had swimming in circles to keep them healthy and alive.

Exiting the hatchery there’s a quick walk to the river where they release the salmon for the last leg of their egg releasing journey. I’d venture to guess there were maybe 100 or so salmon trying to work their way upriver. We got a couple good views of them jumping out of the water trying to get up the waterfalls. The hatchery didn’t end their instructional fun tour at the building. They continued it to the river. There were many posts explaining the egg laying process and they thought ahead and had polarized lenses along the railing so you can see the fish better. It was really cool.

I’m giving the hatchery 3 stars because it’s a really cool place to visit once. If you’re in Anchorage and looking for something to do and are interested in sports fishing or fish in general then definitely come visit the hatchery. If you just want to eat up some time and have something fun to do with the kids, then also give this...

I recently had the chance to visit the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery in Anchorage, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. What impressed me most was how thoughtfully organized and engaging the self-guided tour was from start to finish.

The layout makes it easy to walk through at your own pace, with clear signage and displays that explain everything in a way that’s approachable whether you’re a curious visitor or someone with a keen interest in Alaska’s fisheries. The facility does an outstanding job showcasing the incredible amount of work and care that goes into raising salmon and trout, and I left with a completely new appreciation for how vital this hatchery is to Alaska’s sport fishing industry and its natural ecosystems.

Every section of the tour had something fascinating to see—from the sleek tanks to the interactive exhibits that help you understand each step in the fish-rearing process. The educational value is exceptional; it manages to be both family-friendly and deeply informative for adults. It’s clear the staff has put a lot of effort into making the experience accessible, polished, and inspiring.

Overall, this hatchery is not just a stop—it’s a highlight. Anyone visiting Anchorage who wants to learn more about Alaska’s wildlife and conservation efforts should absolutely take the time to go. It’s a clean, modern, beautifully run facility that leaves you with a sense of wonder and appreciation for the work being done behind the scenes to support one of Alaska’s most...

Our friends who have lived in AK for many years, didn't even realize that there was this wonderful place! 😱 They had been to it many times, but hadn't gone inside. Were all blown away by what we saw inside! Great displays and exhibits describing the important work done by this hatchery. They even had audio at each station available through your phone. Only problem was we hadn't expected that it would take very long to go through it and had to leave at closing time after we'd been there over an hour. Could have probably spent twice that amount of time to really see it. And it...