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This Week In AK History 11/29-12/5
As we wrap up November and ease into December, Alaska's past continues to reveal tales of resilience, exploration, and transformation. From groundbreaking policy shifts to pioneering expeditions, here are distinct historic facts for each day—spotlighting events that shaped the Last Frontier in unique ways. November 29 1953: The Alaska Native Medical Center officially opened its doors in Anchorage  on a 21.4-acre site along Third Avenue. Financed by a federal grant and local b
Nov 28


This Week In Alaska History 11/21-11/28
This Week in Alaska History: November 21–28
November 21, 1993 Chief Walter Northway Passes Away at Age 117
November 22, 1964 Major Aftershock from the Great Alaska Earthquake
November 23, 1903 Fairbanks’ First Community Thanksgiving
November 24, 1947 Freighter Clarksdale Victory Wrecked on Hippa Island
November 25, 1955 Alaska Constitutional Convention Continues Work
November 26, 1867 First Bill to Organize Alaska as a Territory Introduced in Congress
November 27, 1886 Murder
Nov 20


This Week In Alaska History 10/28-10/6
This Week in Alaska History:October 28 – November 6 This interval unearths narratives of engineered lifelines, postal frontiers, sacred foundations, bridged transitions, fiscal inaugurations, civic births, seismic tempests, juridical anchors, aerial baptisms, and thermonuclear echoes—mirroring Alaska's chronicle of connectivity, settlement, sanctity, linkage, revenue, community, upheaval, order, innovation, and veiled might across its vast, whispering wilds.
Oct 31


This Week In Alaska History 10/21-10/27
October 21 – October 27 This stretch of October reveals stories of journalistic milestones, fraternal foundations, academic leadership, cultural preservations, monumental designations, gubernatorial legacies, and exploratory farewells—illuminating Alaska's enduring spirit of innovation, community, and connection to its vast, untamed frontiers.
Oct 23


This Week in Alaska History: October 13 – October 20 - Russia Hands Over Alaska To US
October 13, 1960: Alaska Methodist University was dedicated in Anchorage
October 14, 1865: Renowned Alaska artist Sydney Laurence was born in Brooklyn
October 15, 1957: The U.S. Forest Service handed a massive contract to the Alaska Lumber & Pulp Company in Sitka
October 16, 1929: Flames engulfed Wrangell's Presbyterian Church
October 17, 1873: Thomas Riggs, destined to serve as Alaska's ninth governor from 1918 to 1921
October 18, 1867: In Sitka, the formal handover ceremony
Oct 15


This Week in Alaska History: October 6 – October 12
October 6, 1869 – The Fort Wrangell post office opened its doors, a small but symbolic step in U.S. administration of the newly acquired territory. Wrangell, a hub for Tlingit trade and early forts, became a key stop on the Inside Passage mail routes.
Oct 10


This Week in Alaska History: September 29 – October 5 - Walter Hickle Greenlights Pipeline
This Week in Alaska History: September 29 – October 5 - Walter Hickle Greenlights Pipeline
Sep 29


This Week In Alaska History: Emperor Hirohito Visits AK - Katmai Monument Established
This Week In Alaska History: Emperor Hirohito Visits AK - Katmai Monument Established - Fairbanks Library Milestone
September 22, 1898: "Three Lucky Swedes" Strike Gold at Nome
September 23, 1917: Pioneer Hall Opens in Fairbanks with a Potlatch Celebration
Image of Pioneer Hall in Fairbanks
September 24, 1918: President Wilson Designates Katmai National Monument
September 25, 1932: Merrill Field Beacon Dedicated in Anchorage
September 26, 1971: Emperor Hirohito's Historic Vi
Sep 26


This Week In Alaska History - Anchorage & Borough United - Alaska's Road Commission Starts
This Week in Alaska History: September 15–21 -
September 15, 1985: Northern Lights Become More Visible as Season Shifts
September 16, 1908: Founding of the Alaska Road Commission
September 17, 1902: Felix Pedro Strikes Gold in Fairbanks
September 18, 1943: Aleutian Islands Campaign Progresses
September 19, 1975: Anchorage and Borough Unify
September 20, 1880: Gold Discovered in Juneau
September 21, 1942: Alaska Highway Officially Opens
Sep 17


This Week in Alaska History: September 8–14 - The 1918 Wreck of SS Princess Sophia Claims 350 Lives In Alaska.
September 8, 1906: Alaska’s Capital Moves from Sitka to Juneau
September 9, 1947: Devastating Fire in Valdez
September 10, 1898: Nome Gold Rush Ignites
September 11, 1958: Death of Robert W. Service
September 12, 1918: SS Princess Sophia’s Final Preparations
September 13, 1955: Alaska Constitutional Convention Delegates Elected
September 14, 1741: Vitus Bering’s Exploration of Alaska’s Coastline
Sep 5


This Week In Alaska History 1906: Roald Amundsen Reaches Nome!
August 30, 1918: Death of Father William Duncan (Metlakatla)
August 31, 1953: Ted Stevens Appointed U.S. District Attorney (Fairbanks)
September 1, 1906: Roald Amundsen Reaches Nome (Nome)
September 2, 1935: Opening of the First Juneau-Douglas Bridge (Juneau)
September 3, 1941: Activation of Army Post at Nome (Nome)
September 4, 1794: Launch of the Phoenix Ship (Resurrection Bay)
September 5, 1881: Alaska's First Election Held
Aug 29


This Week In Alaska History - The Spanish Flu Reaches Ketchikan in 1918
August 23, 1902: Mount Katmai Eruption Observed
August 24, 1888: First Protestant Church in Sitka Demolished
August 25, 1942: Construction of the Alaska Highway Nears Completion (Delta Junction)
August 26, 1918: Spanish Flu Reaches Alaska (Ketchikan)
August 27, 1922: First Radio Broadcast in Alaska (Anchorage)
August 28, 1903: Founding of Seward Celebrated
August 29, 1970: University of Alaska Fairbanks Opens New Geophysical Institute
Aug 20


This Week In Alaska History 8/16-8/22. Women Vote In AK 7 Years Before The US.
August 16, 1920:Â First Airplane Overflight in Juneau
August 17, 1826:Â Alexander Andreyevich Baranov DiesAugust 18, 1913:Â Alaska Territorial Legislature Grants Women Voting Rights
August 19, 1935:Â Territorial Legislator Alton C. Nordale Dies in Plane Crash (Near Healy River)
August 20, 1953:Â First Televisions Displayed in Fairbanks (Fairbanks)
August 21, 1922:Â Fire Destroys Post Office and Buildings in Haines
August 22, 1794:Â Captain George Vancouver Ends Alaska Surveys (Baran
Aug 13


This Week In Alaska History 8/8-8/15 - Will Rogers Dies In A Plane Crash Near Utqiaġvik
August 8, 1953: Fairbanks International Airport Opens
August 9, 1867: U.S. Takes Possession of Alaska (Sitka)
August 10, 1900: Skagway Incorporated as Alaska’s First City
August 11, 1965: Alaska’s First State Ferry System Begins Operations
August 12, 1985: Red Dog Mine Begins Operations
August 13, 1935: Will Rogers and Wiley Post Die in Plane Crash (Utqiaġvik)
August 14, 1971: Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Implementation Begins
August 15, 1958: USS Nautilus Transits
Aug 6


Railroads, Pipelines and FDR Goes Fishing in Kodiak: This Week in Alaska History: August 1–August 7
August 1, 1959: Alaska’s First State Legislature Convenes
August 2, 1958: Construction Begins on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System
August 3, 1908: First Automobile Arrives in Fairbanks
August 4, 1899: White Pass & Yukon Route Railway Opens (Skagway)
August 5, 1975: Exxon Begins Exploratory Drilling in Prudhoe Bay
August 6, 1886: First Recorded Eruption of Mount Redoubt
August 7, 1944: President Roosevelt Fishes on Kodiak Island
Jul 30


This Week In Alaska History: 7/26-8/1: The Earth Shakes & Gold Fever Spreads From Nome To Skagway
This Week in Alaska History: 7/26-8/1: The Earth Shakes & Gold Fever Spreads From Nome To Skagway
July 26, 1943: U.S. Forces Intensify Aleutian Campaign Against Japanese Occupation - July 27, 1897: Bonanza Creek Gold Find Ignites Rush to Skagway - July 28, 1900: Nome Gold Rush Peaks with Anvil Creek Boom- July 29, 2021: Chignik Earthquake Shakes Alaska Peninsula - July 30, 1868: Fort Wrangell Established to Secure U.S. Control - July 31, 2007: Earthquake Swarm Rattles Northe
Jul 23


This Week In Alaska History 7/19-7/25. Whale Attacks Steam Vessel Near Akutan!
July 19, 1917: Steam Whaling Vessel Tanginak Attacked by Whale
July 20, 1897: Carl Ben Eielson, Pioneer Aviator, Born
July 23, 1906: First Wireless Telegraph Station Established in Alaska
July 25, 1910: First Ascent of Denali’s North Peak
Jul 16


This Week In Alaska History 7/12-7/18. Russian Sloop of War Neva arrives in Kodiak
July 12, 1741: Russian Explorer Aleksei Chirikov Sights Alaskan Mainland at Baker Island
July 13, 1921: Scott C. Bone Assumes Role as Alaska’s Tenth Governor in Juneau
July 14, 1804: Russian Ship Neva Arrives at Kodiak, Marking Global Voyage Milestone
July 15, 1923: President Warren G. Harding Drives Golden Spike at Nenana, Completing Alaska Railroad
July 16, 1786: British Ships King George and Queen Charlotte Arrive at Cook Inlet
Jul 9


This Week In Alaska History 7/5-7/11 Juneau Gets The Telephone!
This Week In Alaska History: July 5, 1869: Steamboat Yukon Enters Yukon River, First to Do So
July 6, 1921: Fire Destroys Chilkat Oil Company Plant
July 7, 1920: President Warren G. Harding Visits Alaska During Voyage
July 8, 1937: Radio Telephone Service Inaugurated Between Juneau and Seattle
July 9, 1953: Mount Spurr Erupts, Blanketing Anchorage with Ash
July 10, 1899: Fort Gibbon Military Reserve Established Near Tanana
July 11, 1921: Last Russian Blockhouse Razed in Si
Jul 2


This Week In Alaska History: Hyder, AK Burns 6/28/1928
June 28, 1928: Hyder Fire Devastates Town Modern Day Hyder, AK From British Columbia A massive fire swept through Hyder, Alaska,...
Jun 26
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