This Week In Alaskan History: On May 20, 1909 Walter E. Clark became the 7th and last governor of the District of Alaska. He acted in that role for three years until 1912 when Alaska became a territory. In May of 1913 Clark became the 1st governor of the territory of Alaska. The Governor’s Background Clark was born in Ashford, Connecticut to a farming family. He served … [Read more...]
United States Acquires Alaska
Today in U.S. history: On March 30, 1867 the United States acquired Alaska from Russia. The 586,412 square miles worth of land cost the U.S. $7.2 million. The Alaska purchase marked the end of Russian efforts to expand trade and settlements to the Pacific coast of North America. Further, this allowed the U.S. to rise as a great power in the Asia-Pacific region. History Beginning in … [Read more...]
Mt. McKinley National Park Established
This Week in Alaska History: The annual celebration of the creation of Mt. McKinley National Park is on February 26. This park has the highest point in the United States at 20,320 feet above sea level. The wildlife is plentiful in this park along with beautiful sights to see. Not surprisingly, tourists from all over the world travel to see what this park is all about. Who Established … [Read more...]
Alaska’s First State Legislature
This Week In Alaskan History: A mere three weeks after then President Dwight Eisenhower signed the proclamation which granted statehood to Alaska, the first Alaska State Legislature convened on January 26, 1959. Alaska’s First State Legislature Convened At the state’s first Legislature, Alaskan lawmakers took it upon themselves to not only organize a state government but pass the … [Read more...]
Robert W. Service
This Week In Alaskan History: Robert William Service was born on January 16, 1874 in Lancashire, England to a bank cashier and heiress. One of four children, Service’s parents sent him to live with his grandfather and three aunts in Scotland at the age of five. From these unlikely beginnings, Service eventually became the “Bard of the Yukon”. Service Sets Out For The Yukon Service … [Read more...]
The Day Alaska Joined The Union
This Week in Alaskan History: Then President Dwight Eisenhower signed a proclamation on January 3, 1959 which admitted the territory of Alaska into the Union. With a flick of his pen, Eisenhower made Alaska not only the 49th state, but the largest as well. "Seward's Folly" Ninety-two years prior, then Secretary of State William H. Seward signed a treaty with Russia on March 30, … [Read more...]
