|
|
|
Timeline of Alaska's History |
| |
|
Alaska's modern history is very short; it was not discovered by the developed world until halfway through the 18th century. However, the indigenous peoples of Alaska have been here for quite some time!
|
|
10,000 - 40,000 Years Ago
The first peoples came to Alaska during the last Ice Age, most likely following herd animals across the 1,000 mile wide Bering Land Bridge exposed by lowered sea levels. Most tribes will continue south, populating the rest of North America and ultimately South America, but some peoples remain behind, becoming the Native Alaskan Aborigines.
~12,000 BC
The last ice age ended about this time flooding the land bridge between Alaska and Siberia.
|
 |
| NPS | | Bering Land Bridge |
 |
1728
Vitus Bering, a Danish explorer, discovered the Bering Strait between Asia and North America.
For more information about the Bering Land Bridge visit http://www.nps.gov/bela
1741
A Russian expedition led by Vitus Bering, along with George Steller, made the first "discovery" of Alaska, landing on or near what today is Kayak Island. Bering explored the western coast of Alaska until he was shipwrecked and died on Kamchatka Island, later named Bering Island.
|
|
1776
Captain James Cook, British Navigator and Explorer, set sail on his 3rd voyage, leading the expedition to find the fabled Northwest Passage, a trading route across the top of North America.
1778
Captain Cook sailed up the northwest coast anchoring off the coast of Alaska, identifying what is now Cook Inlet. He continued up the coast through the Bering Strait, and entered the Arctic Ocean, but was forced to turn back due to ice blocking the way.
|
 |
| NPS | | Three Saints Bay on Kodiak Island |
|
1780
A Japanese whaling ship ran aground near the western end of the Aleutian Islands. Rats from the ship reached the nearest island giving it the name Rat Island.
1784
The first Russian Settlement in Alaska was established on Kodiak Island at Three Saints Bay
For more information about the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge visit http://kodiak.fws.gov
1807
The Eclipse, a Yankee fur trading vessel, sank in the Shumagin Islands, south of the Alaska Peninsula. It is the oldest known American shipwreck in Alaska and was missing until 2007.
|
 |
| Alaska Library | | Packers on the Dyea Trail |
|
1853
Oil was discovered in the Cook Inlet.
1857
Coal mining began at Coal Harbor.
1867
The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million dollars in gold, two cents an acre. At the time of the purchase, the United States referred to it as "Seward's Folly".
1872
Gold was discovered near Sitka.
1874
George Halt became the first to cross Chilkoot Pass in search for Gold.
1876
Gold was discovered in Juneau, sparking the Juneau Gold Rush.
|
|
1884
Alaska became a U.S. Territory. U.S. Congress did not provide for an Alaskan government until this year.
1888
More than 60,000 arrived in Alaska in search of Gold.
1897-1900
The Klondike Gold Rush occurred. Over 100,000 prospectors would attempt to travel north to seek their fortunes in the Klondike.
If you would like to learn more about gold panning here in Alaska, visit our Gold Panning page at http://alaskacenters.gov/gold-panning.cfm
|
 |
| UGSG | | Hanging Valley in Tongass National Forest |
|
1900
The Capital of Alaska was moved from Sitka to Juneau.
The White Pass and Yukon Railroad was completed
1907
President Theodore Roosevelt established the Tongass National Forest.
For more informaton visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass
|
|
1925
A diptheria epidemic cripples Nome, Alaska. Conditions prohibit the life-saving serum from being shipped by plane, so 20 dog-sled teams race the medicine 674 miles (1,085 km) from Nenana to Nome in just over 5 days in record cold and hurricane-force winds. Dogs like Balto and Togo are commemorated for their heroic races, and to this day this "race of mercy" is hailed as the last hurrah for sled dog teams in the working world.
To learn more about the Iditarod National Historic Trail and the Iditarod sled dog race, click here.
|
 |
| NPS | | American troops in the Aleutian Islands |
|
1940
Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base was established.
1942
Japan invades the Aleutian islands of Attu and Kiska. This prompts the construction of of the Alaska-Canada Highway to transport troops to Alaska, and the united states introduces a huge military presence to the state.
1943
American Military re-take the Aleutian Islands
For more information about WWII in the Aleutian Islands visit http://www.nps.gov/aleu
|
 |
| Alaska State Seal |
|
1959
Almost one hundred years after the purchase of Alaska, it finally becomes the 49th state. The lobbying of the Alaska Statehood Committee and the passionate arguments from Alaskans result in President Eisenhower's signing of the official declaration to make Alaska a state on January 3, 1959.
|
 |
| NOAA | | Damage due to the 1964 Earthquake |
|
1964
A massive 9.2 magnitude earthqake - the largest North American earthquake ever recorded, second largest in the world - rocks the Southern portion of Alaska.
Valdez is completely destroyed, Seward is almost entirely wiped out and Anchorage is heavily damaged. Damage is felt as far south as California. 130 people are killed, mostly due to underwater waves and tsunamis that resulted.
1968
Oil is discovered at Prudhoe bay, and not long after that, plans begin to build a pipeline to the North Slope in order to recover it.
|
|
1971
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) is passed, giving Alaska Natives significant amounts of land and capital, as well as establishing the Native Corporations.
1974 - 1977
Construction begins on the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline in 1974 and completed in 1977.
1980
The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) passes, creating the huge public lands system in Alaska. Over 100 million acres are set aside for preservation and protection throughout Alaska.
For more information visit http://alaskacenters.gov/history-public-lands or http://dnr.alaska.gov/commis/opmp/anilca/more.htm
|
 |
| NOAA |
|
1989
The Exxon Valdez runs into a reef in the Prince William Sound, spilling 11 millions of gallons of Alaska crude oil along 1,500 miles of coastline. A massive cleanup begins, drawing upon thousands of government-employed helpers and volunteers alike. The clean-up effort lasted more than 3 years.
|
|
|
