Alaska's History
[ top ]

The forty-ninth state, Alaska embodies the vitality, ambition, potential and beauty of youth. Called Alyeska - The Great Land - by early Aleuts, contemporary Alaska is far different from the land of the last gold rush. Modern cities occupy once undeveloped areas. Bush pilots wing over vast reaches, shadowing Eskimos hunting in kayaks. Today's Alaskans enjoy the contrasts and benefits of wilderness and civilization.

When Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867, only its fringe had been explored by Europeans. Russian ships first weighed anchor off the coast in 1741. Subsequent Russian voyages established fur-trading posts on the islands and along the southeastern coast. Spanish and English naval exploration soon followed.

Alaska literally turned out to be a gold mine. The first discovery of the precious metal in 1880 brought hordes of fortune seekers and created the city of Juneau. Skagway began to prosper in 1897 as a major port of entry and an outfitting center for prospectors. The boom hit Nome in 1898 when the sands of Anvil Creek yielded gold. Seward's extravagance returned about a billion dollars during this period.

For many years the federal government largely ignored Alaska, but the gold rush created a need for law and order. Congress enacted civil and criminal laws and in 1903 passed a Homestead Act. On May 7, 1907, Congress empowered Alaska to elect a nonvoting delegate to the House of Representatives.

The Territory of Alaska was created in 1912, and provisions were made for the election of a legislature and the presidential appointment of a governor. In 1916 Alaska made its first bid for statehood; admission finally was granted in 1959.

In 1968 "black gold" was discovered at Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic coast, initiating the construction of the Alaskan Pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.

[ top ]

Alaska's Geography
[ top ]

The geographic scope and variety of Alaska are astounding. One fifth the size of the "Lower 48" and two-and-a-half times the size of Texas, Alaska covers some 586,400 square miles and spans four time zones. Its coastline is longer than that of the continental United States, and it embraces five mountain ranges, one of which includes 20,320-foot Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America. Arctic deserts, ice fields, glaciers and more than three million lakes comprise some of the geographic wonders of the state.

[ Top ]

Alaska's Recreation
[ top ]

Alaska's vast expanses of wilderness are a major attraction to visitors and locals alike. Much of this land, including millions of acres of national parkland and wildlife refuges, is accessible only by plane or boat.

Licenses for residents and nonresidents for hunting are required. Non resident game tags are required for taking big game, which includes brown, black and grizzly bears, bison, caribous, deer, elk, goats, moose, and more. The cost of tags varies with the species. Registered guides must accompany nonresidents who wish to hunt sheep and brown and grizzly bears.

Sport-fishing licenses, for both freshwater and saltwater fishing are required for all nonresident anglers 16 years of age and older. Four types of nonresident licenses are available for sport-fishing.

Swimming, hiking, mountain climbing and camping are popular pastimes in Alaska. Skiing, ice skating, dogsledding, snowmobiling, and skijoring behind dog teams also have become increasingly popular. Skiers will find good slopes near Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks.

[ Top ]