Prior to the 18th century, when a Russian expedition found it, the history of Alaska does not have an extensive history. Only indigenous people resided on the land before 1741. It is believed these peoples made their way from Asia by way of the Bering land bridge.
In 1741 Vitus Bering and his fellow explorer George Steller are said to have discovered the land, however settlement did not begin until 1784. Grigory Ivanovich Sheilikhov led the first settlement at Three Saints Bay located on Kodiak Island. More settlers arrived and the area grew to include much of the Cook Inlet.
There was no denying the Russians controlled the land and fur trade, far better than their British and Spanish counterparts. The Russians still suffered financial complications in the 19th century which forced them to sell the lands to the United States. The Alaska purchase was authorized by the then US Secretary of State, William H. Seward; 7.2 million was paid on August 1, 1867. The price of the vast region was only two cents per acre, many people called this move "Seward's Folly".
When gold was found in the late 1800's, the territory finally began to get attention from the United States. The gold rush caused a population boom, growth in the economy, towns, and with it many improvements to the region. In 1903 Canada settled their dispute over land in the region.
In 1925 the town of Nome, Alaska was hit with a devastating diphtheria epidemic. The location of the town and the brutal winter conditions made it impossible to reach by traditional means. Instead a brave group comprised of 20 sled dog teams crossed over 674 miles in just five days to save the population. This amazing event is celebrated to this day with the historic Iditarod sled dog race.
With the growing threats of World War II, the joint facility of Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base was created outside of Anchorage in 1940. The United States was invaded and occupied by Japanese forces when they overtook the islands of Attu and Kiska, in the Aleutian chain. The islands were taken back by military forces within one year, but it served to increase the military presence in the region. The growth of military personnel caused some areas to double their population.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower recognized the importance of the region following World War II. The Alaska Statehood Act was effective on July 7, 1958. On January 3, 1959, Alaska was welcomed as the 49th state, nearly 100 years after it was purchased.
The unique state has had problems to overcome. On March 27, 1964, it was hit by a 9.2 earthquake that shook for a devastating 4 minutes. The Good Friday Earthquake is one of the most awesome earthquakes ever recorded; it laid waste to entire towns, swallowed ports, rearranged the flow of streams and changed the surface of the terrain.
Oil was discovered in the region in 1968, it lead to the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline; launching the state into a position of great financial power within the Union. The crude was also a source of tremendous environmental devastation. In 1986 the Exxon tanker named Valdez ran aground in the Prince William Sound. The crash tore through the hull and spilled 11 million gallons of crude on the shores; wildlife of every type was killed with numbers reaching the hundred thousands, and scarring the ecology of the region.
In 1741 Vitus Bering and his fellow explorer George Steller are said to have discovered the land, however settlement did not begin until 1784. Grigory Ivanovich Sheilikhov led the first settlement at Three Saints Bay located on Kodiak Island. More settlers arrived and the area grew to include much of the Cook Inlet.
There was no denying the Russians controlled the land and fur trade, far better than their British and Spanish counterparts. The Russians still suffered financial complications in the 19th century which forced them to sell the lands to the United States. The Alaska purchase was authorized by the then US Secretary of State, William H. Seward; 7.2 million was paid on August 1, 1867. The price of the vast region was only two cents per acre, many people called this move "Seward's Folly".
When gold was found in the late 1800's, the territory finally began to get attention from the United States. The gold rush caused a population boom, growth in the economy, towns, and with it many improvements to the region. In 1903 Canada settled their dispute over land in the region.
In 1925 the town of Nome, Alaska was hit with a devastating diphtheria epidemic. The location of the town and the brutal winter conditions made it impossible to reach by traditional means. Instead a brave group comprised of 20 sled dog teams crossed over 674 miles in just five days to save the population. This amazing event is celebrated to this day with the historic Iditarod sled dog race.
With the growing threats of World War II, the joint facility of Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base was created outside of Anchorage in 1940. The United States was invaded and occupied by Japanese forces when they overtook the islands of Attu and Kiska, in the Aleutian chain. The islands were taken back by military forces within one year, but it served to increase the military presence in the region. The growth of military personnel caused some areas to double their population.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower recognized the importance of the region following World War II. The Alaska Statehood Act was effective on July 7, 1958. On January 3, 1959, Alaska was welcomed as the 49th state, nearly 100 years after it was purchased.
The unique state has had problems to overcome. On March 27, 1964, it was hit by a 9.2 earthquake that shook for a devastating 4 minutes. The Good Friday Earthquake is one of the most awesome earthquakes ever recorded; it laid waste to entire towns, swallowed ports, rearranged the flow of streams and changed the surface of the terrain.
Oil was discovered in the region in 1968, it lead to the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline; launching the state into a position of great financial power within the Union. The crude was also a source of tremendous environmental devastation. In 1986 the Exxon tanker named Valdez ran aground in the Prince William Sound. The crash tore through the hull and spilled 11 million gallons of crude on the shores; wildlife of every type was killed with numbers reaching the hundred thousands, and scarring the ecology of the region.
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