The $27 million Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, was dedicated on Tuesday.

The center is named for Morris Thompson, an elder from Tanana who died in 2000. He was praised as a leader who built bridges among Native and non-Natives communities.

The center reflects Thompson's work. It will house the Tanana Chiefs Conference, the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Alaska Public Lands Information Office.

"I think it’s Morris, smiling down on us today, and saying, what you’ve done is good. This is something we should all be smiling about,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.

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Elders bless Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center (The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner 8/13)