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

Sitka 5 Prior To Govt. Move

On this day, the office of the Governor of Alaska was officially relocated from Sitka to Juneau, marking a significant shift in the territory’s administrative center. The move followed the earlier transfer of the District government and Customs District headquarters, reflecting Juneau’s growing importance due to its gold mining activity and strategic location. This transition solidified Juneau’s role as Alaska’s capital, a status it retains today, and underscored the region’s economic evolution from Russian fur trading to American resource development.

September 9, 1947: Devastating Fire in Valdez

Valdez In The 40's

A catastrophic fire swept through Valdez, destroying the Gilson store, a bank, and the Seattle Hotel. This disaster struck the small port town, a key hub for Alaska’s coastal trade and transportation, highlighting the vulnerability of early Alaskan communities to fires due to wooden structures and limited firefighting resources. The rebuilding efforts that followed demonstrated the resilience of Valdez residents, a recurring theme in Alaska’s history of overcoming natural and human challenges.

September 10, 1898: Nome Gold Rush Ignites

Nome 1900

The discovery of gold on Anvil Creek near Nome by Jafet Lindeberg, Erik Lindblom, and John Brynteson—known as the "Three Lucky Swedes"—sparked the Nome Gold Rush. Unlike the Klondike, Nome’s gold was accessible in beach sands, attracting thousands of prospectors. By 1900, Nome’s population surged to over 20,000, transforming the remote Seward Peninsula into a bustling economic center. This event reshaped Alaska’s economy and left a legacy celebrated in Nome’s history, later connected to milestones like Roald Amundsen’s 1906 arrival.

September 11, 1958: Death of Robert W. Service

Cabin of Robert Service in Dawson City, Yukon

On this day, Robert W. Service, the famed "Bard of the Yukon," passed away at age 85 in Monte Carlo. Known for poems like The Cremation of Sam McGee, Service captured the spirit of the Klondike Gold Rush and Alaska’s rugged frontier. His works, inspired by his time in the Yukon and Alaska, remain iconic, reflecting the adventurous and resilient character of the region’s history. His legacy continues to influence Alaskan culture and literature.

Below is a reading of "The Cremation of Sam McGee" read by Johnny Cash.

September 12, 1918: SS Princess Sophia’s Final Preparations

Princess Sophia grounded on Vanderbilt Reef, 24 October 1918, showing the navigation buoy. When this photograph was taken, enough rescue vessels had arrived to take off all the passengers and crew of Princess Sophia

The SS Princess Sophia, a Canadian Pacific steamship, was preparing for its voyage from Skagway, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia. Though the ship would tragically sink in late October 1918, claiming over 350 lives, its preparations in mid-September marked the prelude to one of Alaska’s worst maritime disasters. The tragedy underscored the dangers of Alaska’s coastal waters and led to improved maritime safety regulations, a pivotal moment in the state’s transportation history.

September 13, 1955: Alaska Constitutional Convention Delegates Elected

The Constitution of Alaska on display in the Seattle University School of Law library in January 2023

In a special election, 55 delegates were chosen to attend the Alaska Constitutional Convention, which convened later in November at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. This convention was a critical step toward statehood, as delegates drafted the Alaska Constitution, adopted in 1956. The document laid the foundation for Alaska’s admission as the 49th state in 1959, marking a turning point in its political history and quest for self-governance.

September 14, 1741: Vitus Bering’s Exploration of Alaska’s Coastline

Post-mortem reconstruction of Vitus Jonassen Bering's face

Russian explorer Vitus Bering, during his Second Kamchatka Expedition, was actively charting Alaska’s coastline, including the Aleutian Islands, around this date. Having sighted Mount Saint Elias in July 1741, Bering’s expedition in September continued mapping the region, marking one of the earliest European contacts with Alaska. His work facilitated Russian colonization and fur trading, shaping Alaska’s early colonial history, though Bering himself perished later that year.