Juneau Travel Forum

Am going to visit soon. Is there a way to tell if something is being passed off as authentic or is there a commercial tag stating the item was made in China.
Oh, to be able to buy only authentic merchandise!!!!
thanks for your help.
Looking forward to our visit in August.

Most foreign goods are labeled with the country of origin. Most anything that is mass market and inexpensive is likely to be made outside of the area. Look for shops that specialize in local arts and crafts, the items may not be as pretty, but they will be authentic. I was in Anchorage last June and we are taking a cruise with a stop in Juneau in September.

DG

It depends upon what you are looking for. If you want Alaska Native (to us that means Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut) crafts you should look for the "silver hand" label. There are a number of good places to buy the local Indian art/jewelry. Tlingit and Haida tribes are indiginous to S.E. Alaska, so you will mainly find their art, though some shops carry Eskimo work as well. The Juneau State Museum gift shop is always safe. That being said, I am a wholesaler of totemic goods (northwest pewter) manufactured in central america, though designed by local indians transitioning from the prison system. Because it is not "Made in Alaska" I don't qualify for the Silver Hand label. Two very nice boutique-y shops, Kaills Fine Crafts on Front Street, and Ad Lib, on South Franklin St. have good collections with local crafts.