Alaska Alive! History

By cleyba

  • Danish explorer Vitus Bering makes 1st European landing in Alaska

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)
  • Period: to

    Time of Contact: Unangan / Aleut

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)
  • Period: to

    Time of Contact: Pacific Eskimo

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • British Captain James Cook sails to the "Cook Inlet" and begins mass European fur trade with his reports of the land's riches

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)
  • Period: to

    Time of Contact: Bering Sea Eskimo

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)
  • Period: to

    Time of Contact: Southeast Coastal Indians

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • Russians discover Pribilof Islands

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • The Chugach Alutiiq come under Russian subjugation

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • Russian Orthodox missionaries arrive in St. Paul (Kodiak) to minister to locals

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)
  • Period: to

    Time of Contact: Interior Indians

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)
  • Period: to

    Smallpox epidemic devestates the Deghitan and Koyukon people

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • Fort Yukon trading post is established

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • Peter Doroshin discovers gold on the Kenai Peninsula

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Petroleum is discovered in PA, plunging the price of whale oil in AK

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)
  • Period: to

    Alaska has no civil government throughout this time period

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics; Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Russia sells Alaska to the US for $7.2 million

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics; Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Steamboats became regular river transportation for gold miners through the interior following the launching of Parrott & Company's sternwheel steamboat.

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Sheldon Jackson founds mission at Wrangell

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country.)

  • Salmon canneries begin in Alaska, but do not employ Natives

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • John Muir famously explores Alaska for the 1st time

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Gold is discovered at Gold Creek (present-day Juneau) by Joe Juneau and Richard Harris

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Cruises and other Alaska tourism inspired by Muir's journeys begins

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • "The Organic Act" is passed in Alaska, thus bringing civil government to Alaska

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country.)

  • The Organic Act of 1884 is passed, recognizing Native's rights to their own homes and camps

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • The US Bureau of Education provides Alaska Natives with schools, trading stores, and begins work with reindeer

    (Philp, K. R. 1981. The New Deal and Alaskan Natives, 1936-1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 267-287. University of Washington Press.)

  • Sheldon Jackson is named Alaska's federal education agent

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Gold is discovered at Forty-Mile River

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Tsimshians migrate to Annette Island, Alaska from British Columbia and begin universal schooling in their own language

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • The Dawes General Allotment Act of 1887 abolished tribal governments and broke apart reservations as they had been known

    (Philp, K. R. 1981. The New Deal and Alaskan Natives, 1936-1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 267-287. University of Washington Press.)

  • Gold is discovered at "Circle City"

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Gold is discovered along the Klondike River, prompting gold rushers to search into the Yukon River as well.

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Plessy v. Ferguson allows segregation in famous "separate but equal" ruling

    (Cole, T.M. (1992). Jim Crow in Alaska: The passage of the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 314-335. University of Washington Press.)

  • Gold is found at Nome by explorers

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Skagway, Alaska comes to be through a claim jump

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Alaska introduces liquor licensing, ending Jackson's fought for prohibition

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • The national census is taken, providing a unique look at Alaskan communities through the data collected in conjunction with the various gold rushes occurring at the time.

    (Ducker, J. H. 1994. Gold rushers north: A census study of the Yukon and Alaskan gold rushes, 1896-1900. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 206-221. University of Washington Press.)

  • Copper is discovered at the future site of Kennicott Mine

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Gold is discovered in the Tanana Valley by Italian Felix Pedro. This mining camp turned into Fairbanks eventually.

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Fairbanks' 1st school is opened.

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • The Nelson Act passes, allowing Alaskan schools to segregate Native and non-Native students financially and in the classroom

    (Cole, T.M. (1992). Jim Crow in Alaska: The passage of the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 314-335. University of Washington Press.)

  • Alaska Natives are granted the opportunity to homestead, but not to mineral claims

    (Philp, K. R. 1981. The New Deal and Alaskan Natives, 1936-1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 267-287. University of Washington Press.)

  • Alaska Native population hits all time low due (25,331) to disease and other issues

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • Alaska becomes a U.S. territory and gains its own legislation under the "Home Rule" Act of 1912

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country.)

  • The Alaska Native Brotherhood is founded, assisting Native men in pursuing rights and citizenship

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • Congress approves the beginnings of the Alaska Railroad

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Tanana Chiefs Conference holds 1st meeting with Alaskan Congressional delegate James Wickersham to discuss land use issues

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • The Alaskan Railroad is begun at Seward

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Anchorage is formed from a "wilderness construction camp" turned tent city as workers came to begin working on the Alaska Railroad

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • The Indian Village Act of 1915 passes, allowing settlements with 40+ members to establish their own local government

    (Philp, K. R. 1981. The New Deal and Alaskan Natives, 1936-1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 267-287. University of Washington Press.)

  • Alaska statehood is proposed in a bill for the 1st time by Representative James Wickersham

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Denali (Mount McKinley) National Park is formed

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Roy Jones makes the 1st flight from Seattle to Ketchikan, beginning the bush flight frenzy that made travel to rural Alaska a regular reality

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • The Alaska Railroad is completed 50 miles west of Fairbanks

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Noel Wien moves to Alaska from Minnesota and begins Wein Airways in Fairbanks

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Native Americans are granted universal citizenship

    (Cole, T.M. (1992). Jim Crow in Alaska: The passage of the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 314-335. University of Washington Press.)

  • Glacier Bay becomes a part of the national park system

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • The Alaskan Literacy Law is passed in an attempt to limit Native voting

    (Cole, T.M. (1992). Jim Crow in Alaska: The passage of the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 314-335. University of Washington Press.)

  • The Indian Reorganization Act passes permitting the incorporation of Indian businesses, the establishing of Indian credit agencies, protecting Indian land titles, and granting limited self-governing powers to Indian reservations in the US.

    (Philp, K. R. 1981. The New Deal and Alaskan Natives, 1936-1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 267-287. University of Washington Press.)

  • Congressional legislation is passed allowing Tlingit and Haida men to pursue land claims

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • The Alaska Reorganization Act of 1936 is passed as an extension of the IRA, thus allowing Natives to establish self-governing villages and borrow federal funds.

    (Philp, K. R. 1981. The New Deal and Alaskan Natives, 1936-1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 267-287. University of Washington Press.)

  • Congress passes the Alaska Reindeer Act, placing all reindeer under Native purview

    (Philp, K. R. 1981. The New Deal and Alaskan Natives, 1936-1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 267-287. University of Washington Press.)

  • Kennicott Mine near McCarthy is closed after producing 1 billion tons of copper and 9.7 million ounces of silver.

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Elizabeth and Roy Peratrovich write a letter to Governor Gruening regarding the mistreatment of Natives in Alaskan public institutions and businesses

    (Cole, T.M. (1992). Jim Crow in Alaska: The passage of the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 314-335. University of Washington Press.)

  • President Roosevelt authorizes the construction of the Alcan (Alaska Canada Military Highway)

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Dutch Harbor is bombed by a Japanese fleet in WWII

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Nearly 900 Aleuts are forcibly evacuated from their homes in the Aleutian Islands and taken to unsanitary camps by the US Navy "for their protection" during the war

    (Cole, T.M. (1992). Jim Crow in Alaska: The passage of the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 314-335. University of Washington Press.)

  • 1,200 Japanese troops land at Attu & Kiska and begin building military infrastructure

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • An anti-discrimination act that would have protected Alaska Natives fails to pass due to an 8-8 tie in the House

    (Cole, T.M. (1992). Jim Crow in Alaska: The passage of the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 314-335. University of Washington Press.)

  • 16 year old Alberta Schenck is arrested in Nome for refusing to sit in the "correct" segregated section of a local theater

    (Cole, T.M. (1992). Jim Crow in Alaska: The passage of the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 314-335. University of Washington Press.)

  • Frank Peratrovich and Andrew Hope (both Tlingit) are elected to legislative offices

    (Cole, T.M. (1992). Jim Crow in Alaska: The passage of the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 314-335. University of Washington Press.)

  • The Equal Rights Bill is signed into office, officially prohibiting Jim Crow practices in the Territory of Alaska

    (Cole, T.M. (1992). Jim Crow in Alaska: The passage of the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945. In Haycox, S.W & Childers Mangusso, M. (Eds.), An Alaskan anthology: Interpreting the past. p. 314-335. University of Washington Press.)

  • The Alcan opens to the public, making roadtrip tourism to Alaska possible and popular

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Alaska Statehood Act is passed making Alaska the 49th state

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • The 9.2M 1964 Earthquake strikes Alaska causing millions of dollars of damage to infrastructure and killing 115 Alaskans

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • The Alaska Federation of Natives was formed to pursue land claims with the federal government

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • Oil is discovered on the North Slope

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)
  • Period: to

    Totem poles are re-erected in 1970s symbolizing the resurgence of traditional Tlingit and Haida art following the devastation of totem poles by missionaries

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) is signed by President Nixon

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • Lake Clark is deemed a national monument

    Wikipedia. (2022). Lake Clark National Park & Preserve. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Clark_National_Park_and_Preserve#:~:text=Lake%20Clark%20was%20proclaimed%20a%20national%20monument%20on%20December%201,a%20national%20park%20and%20preserve.

  • The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) is signed

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • Wrangell - St. Elias National Park is formed

    (Ritter, H. 2020. Alaska's history: The people, land, and events of the north country. West Margin Press.)

  • Lake Clark National Park & Preserve is officially established!

    Wikipedia. (2022). Lake Clark National Park & Preserve. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Clark_National_Park_and_Preserve#:~:text=Lake%20Clark%20was%20proclaimed%20a%20national%20monument%20on%20December%201,a%20national%20park%20and%20preserve.

  • The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill occurs in Prince William Sound

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • Alaska Native villages with corporations are recognized as tribes through congressional legislation.

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • The Millenium Agreement is signed

    (Langdon, S. 2002. The Native people of Alaska: Traditional living in a northern land. Greatland Graphics.)

  • This timeline is created for Alaska Alive!