Happy Alaska Day 2024: Top Wishes, Quotes, Celebrations & History- Alaska Day is a recognized holiday on October 18 in the U.S. state of Alaska. Today marks the anniversary of the formal handover of the Russian Empire’s lands in modern-day Alaska to the United States on Friday, October 18, 1867.
National Alaska Day Date Observance:
- 2024, October 18, Friday
- 2025, October 18, Saturday
- 2026, October 18, Sunday
- 2027, October 18, Monday
Happy Alaska Day 2024: Background
While the history of National Alaska Day and its founder are still a mystery, we know a lot about how Alaska became a part of the United States. Indigenous people from tribes like the Inuit, Yupik, Tlingit, and others lived in this Arctic region long before the Russians arrived. They hunted and subsisted on fish, beaver, and whale fat. Then, after settling there and reigning for 68 years, the Russians came and left Alaska.
The construction of a transcontinental telegraph line in Sitka, Alaska, marked the beginning of American rule in Alaska. Due to the destroyed sea otter population, this area was no longer productive, and after the Crimean War, Russia was low on funds, making Alaska challenging to defend. The U.S. wanted to expand its territory, and the Russians wanted to leave. William Seward, the state’s secretary, was the key driving force behind the purchase. Alaska cost $7.2 million to buy. Because of how vocally he supported this cause, most Americans who believed that buying Alaska was a mistake began referring to it as “Seward’s Folly.”
National Alaska Day 2024:
Then, in the 18th century, two treasure hunters discovered gold in the Klondike region, sparking Alaska’s first gold rush. Upwards of 10,000 fortune seekers are believed to have travelled to the beaches at Nome in western Alaska, where gold and the Klondike goldfields were discovered. This region’s strategic importance during World War II helped solidify its recent popularity surge. The American army was already present and prepared to defend their border when the Japanese attacked the Aleutian Islands, which were divided between U.S. territory and Kamchatka Krai, a federal subject of Russia.
This Aleutian expedition, sometimes known as the “One Thousand Mile War,” was the first such conflict conducted on American soil following the Civil War. Until the 19th century, Alaska was a territory before becoming a state of the United States. The 19th century also saw the rise of the popularity of dog sledging in the United States. The whole population of Nome was in danger of death due to a diphtheria outbreak. Additionally, it wasn’t easy to help them because of how remote the location was. An impending blizzard prevented aviation support, which made the situation worse. An antitoxin could only be delivered by sledge dogs.
Leonhard Seppala comes on.JafetLundeberg, a fellow Norwegian who had found financial success in Nome, invited Leonhard Seppala to join him at his Pioneer Mining Company. According to the records, Seppala regretted this choice because the work was challenging. That is until he started mushing supplies while driving sledge dogs. There were 20 people on the squad, including the renowned musher Leonhard Seppala. Although the lead dog, Balto, gained notoriety, many contend that Seppala and his lead dog, Togo, were the real heroes that day.
Symbols of Happy Alaska Day 2024:
The Aleut word “Alyeska,” which means “great land,” is where the name Alaska originates. “The last frontier” is the state’s moniker. “North to the Future” is the state motto. It portrays Alaska as a promising land and was chosen in 1967 for the 100th anniversary of the Alaska Purchase. The official seal was created when Alaska was still a territory and not a state in 1910. The Northern Lights are depicted as beams above the mountains.
The smelter represents mines. The ship means maritime transportation and the train represents Alaska’s railroads. The farmer, his horse, and the three shocks of wheat represent Alaskan agriculture, while the trees stand in for Alaska’s woods. The seals and the fish are a visual reminder of how important wildlife and fishing are to Alaska’s economy.
A blue field appears on the state flag, representing the sky and the miss, the official flower. The future of Alaska, the union’s most northern state, is represented by the North Star. The great bear, a symbol of strength, is represented by the dipper. Other state emblems include the moose (the state land mammal), the bowhead whale (the state sea mammal), the willow ptarmigan (the state bird), the giant king salmon (the state fish), the forget-me-not (the state flower), the gold (the state mineral), and the Sitka spruce (state tree).
There are four ways to observe Happy Alaska Day 2024:
- Visit one of Alaska’s family-friendly national parks, such as the Kenai Fjords National Park, Denali National Park, or the Klondike Gold Rush U.S. National Park.
- Family-friendly documentaries and videos will help you learn more about Alaska’s contemporary history and Native culture.
- Utilize this educational website about Alaska to memorize critical information, state emblems, and important cities.
- Attend neighbourhood celebrations, including parades and the recreation of the American and Russian flag hoisting.
Five entertaining Alaskan facts
- “Last Frontier” is Alaska’s official moniker.
- Alaska has the most active volcanoes in America, with over 130.
- The “forget-me-not” flower is Alaska’s official flower.
- Alaska’s coastal waters are home to 90% of the world’s sea otters.
- Lake Iliamna in southwestern Alaska is the country’s biggest lake.
Celebration of the Happy Alaska Day 2024:Trip to Alaska
If you have the time and the money, consider taking a vacation to see this Arctic state’s treasures. Visit the sizable Denali National Park and Preserve, where you may see glaciers, fossils, and a geological study. Visit Glacier Bay to catch a glimpse of an unusual shade of blue that is not present anywhere else on Earth. If you enjoy the outdoors, you are in luck. You can see humpbacks in the water, ponderous brown bears in the forests, or bald eagles flying overhead. Alaska’s biodiversity is as diverse as it is plentiful. Start your trip planning by browsing travel websites for tips on when to go.
Become familiar with Alaska.
Not quite obsessed with the travel bug? Not an issue. Virtually explore this location. Learn about the culture and history of Alaska, as well as what makes it unique from other places.
Happy Alaska Day 2024: Watch a movie
Join your family for a fun movie night with an Alaskan theme. Look into seeing films with this setting, such as “The Proposal,” “Into The Wild,” or the Disney film “Togo.” Want something more durable? You guessed it—the gold rush in Alaska—is the subject of the Discovery Channel reality TV series “Gold Rush.” Numerous films and TV shows from all genres have this location as their setting, no matter what suits your fancy.
