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This Week In Alaska History: 7/26-8/1: The Earth Shakes & Gold Fever Spreads From Nome To Skagway
- Alaska Means Business
- Jul 23
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 24
This Week in Alaska History: July 26–August 1
July 26, 1943: U.S. Forces Intensify Aleutian Campaign Against Japanese Occupation (Aleutian Islands)
The U.S. military escalates its campaign in the Aleutian Islands during World War II, with continued operations to secure the region after the Japanese occupation of Attu and Kiska. On this date, naval and air forces maintain pressure on Japanese defenses, marking a critical point in reclaiming Alaskan territory. This effort underscores Alaska’s strategic importance in the Pacific theater.
July 27, 1897: Bonanza Creek Gold Find Ignites Rush to Skagway (Skagway)
Prospector George Carmack discovers a significant gold vein along Bonanza Creek near the Alaska-Yukon border, triggering an early Klondike Gold Rush. News of the strike spreads rapidly to Skagway, drawing thousands of stampeders to Alaska’s southeastern frontier. The discovery transforms Skagway and Dyea into bustling gateways for prospectors heading to nearby Yukon claims, spurring economic growth and infrastructure development in Alaska’s panhandle.
July 28, 1900: Nome Gold Rush Peaks with Anvil Creek Boom (Nome)
The Nome Gold Rush reaches a fever pitch as prospectors establish the Anvil Creek diggings, following reports of gold nuggets found along the beaches of the Bering Sea. On this date, a record number of miners arrive in Nome by steamer, transforming the remote Seward Peninsula into a bustling hub. The rush, sparked by earlier finds, solidifies Nome as a key Alaskan gold town and draws global attention to the territory’s mineral wealth.
July 29, 2021: Chignik Earthquake Shakes Alaska Peninsula (Perryville)
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake, known as the Chignik Earthquake, strikes off the Alaska Peninsula, becoming one of the largest earthquakes in U.S. history. Centered 65 miles southeast of Perryville, it triggers a tsunami warning, though no major damage or casualties are reported due to the remote location. The event highlights Alaska’s position on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire.
July 30, 1868: Fort Wrangell Established to Secure U.S. Control (Wrangell)
The U.S. Army establishes Fort Wrangell near the mouth of the Stikine River, one of the first military posts in Alaska following the 1867 purchase from Russia. The fort is created to maintain order during the early gold rushes and to assert U.S. authority in the region, marking a key step in American governance of the territory.
July 31, 2007: Earthquake Swarm Rattles Northeast Brooks Range (Interior Alaska)
The Northeast Brooks Range Earthquake Swarm continues, with seismic activity recorded in Alaska’s remote northern region. This swarm, part of a series of events in 2007, underscores the state’s ongoing geological activity, with quakes felt across a vast area of the Interior. No significant damage is reported, but the events contribute to scientific understanding of Alaska’s tectonic dynamics.
August 1, 1867: U.S. Takes Possession of Alaska in Historic Purchase
The United States officially takes possession of Alaska following the purchase from Russia for $7.2 million, an event orchestrated by Secretary of State William Seward. The transfer, initially mocked as “Seward’s Folly,” proves to be a monumental acquisition as Alaska’s vast resources, including gold and oil, later transform the region’s economic and strategic value.
