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4000 BCE
Indigenous
Natives lived off the land, immersed in the culture that helped them deal with the climate and their environment. Tribes include Iñupiat, Yupik, Aleut, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, -
1500 BCE
European Influence
Trappers known as promyshlenniki move toward Siberia bringing their cultures with them making a strong push towards Alaska. -
Period: to
Russian Influence
Russian Orthodox Church becomes highly influential and take advantage of the pathways created by the promyshlenniki. Russian explorers, Vitus Bering and Aleski Chirikov make contact with Alaskan Natives and the fur trade begins. -
Western Schooling
Western culture begins to appear. The first western school shows up at Three Saints Bay on Kodiak Island. Russian remains predominant in the fur trade and exploitation of Alaskan resources. -
Civil War
The last shots of the Civil War are presumed to have happened off Alaska's coast off of a confederate ship. -
Alaska
Senator Charles Sumner spreads the idea for naming the territory Alaska which had previously been known as Russian America. This was a push to purchase Russian America. -
William H. Seward
A treaty is signed by William H. Seward with Russia to purchase Alaska for 7 million dollars. -
Mission Schools
Schools such as Brady's Mission School and Wrangell Mission School were already established in Alaska at this time. In 1884, the Organic Act was put into place which led to the creation of several boarding schools in Alaska. A major push of Western philosophy, western culture, and religion is used at these schools. -
Gold Rush
The Gold Rush was a major event in the State of Alaska. It contributed to growth in the economy. Mining towns began to develop as the Gold Rush continued. -
Alaska Railroad
A rail line stretching from Seward to Fairbanks was created opening up the possibility of transporting goods. The rail line is still used to this day and is owned by the federal government. -
Citizenship
The Indian Citizenship Act allows Native Americans to become citizens. -
Matsu-Valley
The federal government offers land to farmers during The Great Depression in hopes that they move to Alaska. Farmland in Palmer, Alaska was offered. -
Alaska Becomes a State
President Eisenhower signs for Alaska to become an official state. -
Earthquake
An earthquake happens in south-central Alaska with a magnitude of 9.2. The earthquake killed 139 people and led to a Tsunami. The earthquake is recorded as the second largest in history. -
ANCSA
The Alaska Native Claims Act is signed which transferred land titles to 13 Native corporations and 200 native villages. -
Iditarod
The first 1000 mile race takes place from Willow to Nome Alaska. -
Pipelines
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline is built stretching 800-miles costing billions of dollars. -
Oil Spill
An Exxon Valdez oil tanker hits a coral reef in the Prince William Sound spilling millions of gallons of crude oil into the ocean. This led to an incredible amount of damage along the coast and to this day we are still seeing the effects of this spill.