Alaska’s history is as vast and layered as its landscape. For thousands of years before European contact, the region was home to a rich tapestry of Indigenous peoples — including the Tlingit, Haida, Athabascan, Yup’ik, and Inupiaq — who developed sophisticated cultures perfectly adapted to the demands of the Arctic and subarctic environment.
Russian explorers arrived in the mid-18th century, with Vitus Bering leading the first European expedition to the Alaskan coast in 1741, and Russia soon established a fur trading empire that would define the region for over a century. In 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for just $7.2 million — a deal so widely mocked at the time that it was dubbed “Seward’s Folly” — but the skeptics were silenced when the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s brought a flood of prospectors and settlers north, igniting Alaska’s transformation into a vital American territory.
Alaska was admitted as the 49th state of the Union on January 3, 1959, and today its history of Indigenous heritage, colonial ambition, and frontier spirit continues to shape the identity of America’s largest and most remote state.
Stay
The Wildbirch Hotel – JDV by Hyatt The Wildbirch Hotel - JDV by Hyatt is a modern downtown boutique hotel with beautiful Alaskan inspired designExperiences
Alaska Airlines Lounge at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport The Alaska Airlines Lounge offers comfortable seating with Wi-Fi, seasonal food, and premium drinks
Anchorage Museum Anchorage Museum is a modern museum examining Alaska’s art, history, science, and Indigenous cultures
From Anchorage: Alaska Wildlife Center & Turnagain Arm Tour by Alaska’s Finest Tours and Adventures Alaska’s Finest Tours & Adventures provides guided Anchorage adventures that combine iconic sightseeing with local flavors and expert interpretationEat
Alaska Chopped & Chowdered Alaska Chopped & Chowdered features signature chowder flights and a menu that pairs local seafood with steakhouse-style surf and turf
Breakfast at Crimson at The Wildbirch Hotel Crimson restaurant offers seasonally driven cuisine in a stylish and welcoming setting in Anchorage, Alaska
Cocktails at Crimson at The Wildbirch Hotel Crimson at The Wildbirch Hotel features a crafted cocktail menu spotlighting seasonal creativity in a refined, modern space in Anchorage
Glacier Brewhouse Glacier Brewhouse is a lively downtown brewpub offering distinct beers and hearty Alaskan fare
Urban Wilderness Alaskan Fare Coffee & Tea Urban Wilderness is a cozy coffee spot offering local coffee and quick to go assortment of Alaska-inspired flavors and fun gifts
Whisky & Ramen Whisky & Ramen servers up bowls of inventive ramen and an impressive whiskey-forward drink list in a lively, stylish dining experience
