The history of Alaska is very rich and varied. Much of its settlement and expansion was due to the discovery of the many resources found there, such as oil and gold. Less than a tenth of the land has been developed, and nearly half of the Yukon River flows through the state boundaries. It is known for its national parks, wildlife refuges and wilderness beauty.
There is a vibrant native population that still lives according to their ancestral traditions. Originally, Asiatic peoples crossed the Bering Straits to find homes here. When the Native Claims Settlement Act was passed, native Alaskans received sizable pieces of land and cash. The public lands are now places where visitors can come to learn about the traditional culture and connect with their roots.
Fur trappers from Russia were the first white men to settle here, seeking otter and beaver furs. The American government agreed to buy the territory in 1874 from the Russians. They paid only two cents per acre or a total of about 8 million US dollars. Nevertheless, the American public felt it was a waste of funds. They ridiculed the purchase, calling it Stewards Icebox, after the-then Secretary of State, Mr. James Steward.
However, this opinion soon changed when gold was discovered just two years later. The discovery started the first gold rush; later on, the Klondike Gold Rush brought another 100,000 gold-seekers. Although not everyone struck it rich, many people stayed on as homesteaders because the government was offering free land to anyone who would farm the land.
Tragedy struck in 1925 when a severe epidemic of diphtheria broke out. Planes could not land with their cargo of life-saving medicines due to extreme weather conditions. So dog sled teams were employed to bring the precious serum overland. The dogs covered 700 miles in just five days under hurricane-force weather. Dogs like Balto and Togo became instant heroes. This historic event is remembered by the famous Itarod Dog Sled Race, which is held annually.
During WWII, the Japanese invaded the Aleutian Islands, a chain of islands that stretches out across the Bering Strait. This made the Americans and Canadians realize the strategic value of these islands. As a result, the Alaska Canada highway was built to transport thousands of American troops and create a huge American military presence there.
1959 is remembered as a milestone year because that is when it became the forty-ninth state of the Union. Ten years later, rich deposits of crude oil were found in the Prudhoe Bay area. The Trans-Alaskan Pipeline was built to transport the oil. As possible one of the biggest ever built, this pipeline conveys one fourth of all the American oil produced annually.
The history of Alaska presents a truly varied and fascinating record. In addition to its bevy of natural resources, many people are drawn to the unspoiled natural beauty found here for recreation and tourism. The most convenient way to travel is by air, arriving at Anchorage which is the gateway to this fabulous state. Recently, more and more tourists are opting to travel by cruise ships which provide a lively sea adventure and travel between May and September.
There is a vibrant native population that still lives according to their ancestral traditions. Originally, Asiatic peoples crossed the Bering Straits to find homes here. When the Native Claims Settlement Act was passed, native Alaskans received sizable pieces of land and cash. The public lands are now places where visitors can come to learn about the traditional culture and connect with their roots.
Fur trappers from Russia were the first white men to settle here, seeking otter and beaver furs. The American government agreed to buy the territory in 1874 from the Russians. They paid only two cents per acre or a total of about 8 million US dollars. Nevertheless, the American public felt it was a waste of funds. They ridiculed the purchase, calling it Stewards Icebox, after the-then Secretary of State, Mr. James Steward.
However, this opinion soon changed when gold was discovered just two years later. The discovery started the first gold rush; later on, the Klondike Gold Rush brought another 100,000 gold-seekers. Although not everyone struck it rich, many people stayed on as homesteaders because the government was offering free land to anyone who would farm the land.
Tragedy struck in 1925 when a severe epidemic of diphtheria broke out. Planes could not land with their cargo of life-saving medicines due to extreme weather conditions. So dog sled teams were employed to bring the precious serum overland. The dogs covered 700 miles in just five days under hurricane-force weather. Dogs like Balto and Togo became instant heroes. This historic event is remembered by the famous Itarod Dog Sled Race, which is held annually.
During WWII, the Japanese invaded the Aleutian Islands, a chain of islands that stretches out across the Bering Strait. This made the Americans and Canadians realize the strategic value of these islands. As a result, the Alaska Canada highway was built to transport thousands of American troops and create a huge American military presence there.
1959 is remembered as a milestone year because that is when it became the forty-ninth state of the Union. Ten years later, rich deposits of crude oil were found in the Prudhoe Bay area. The Trans-Alaskan Pipeline was built to transport the oil. As possible one of the biggest ever built, this pipeline conveys one fourth of all the American oil produced annually.
The history of Alaska presents a truly varied and fascinating record. In addition to its bevy of natural resources, many people are drawn to the unspoiled natural beauty found here for recreation and tourism. The most convenient way to travel is by air, arriving at Anchorage which is the gateway to this fabulous state. Recently, more and more tourists are opting to travel by cruise ships which provide a lively sea adventure and travel between May and September.
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