1987
Governor Steve Cowper ordered the state to pull out of land-trade negotiations relating to possible oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Range (ANWR).
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1988
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A joint study by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Alaska Railroad reported that there was no connection between moose deaths and train speed.
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28
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1959
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The Piggly-Wiggly store in Spenard was sold.
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1967
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The first winter ascent of Mt. McKinley was completed.
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1979
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The strongest earthquake in seven years, measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale, struck 120 miles northeast of Yakutat.
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1987
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The Alaska Department of Natural Resources urged passage of a bill to charge fees in Alaska's most popular campgrounds.
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March
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1
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1917
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George Grigsby took office as the first Attorney General of the Territory of Alaska.
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1925
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Keith Miller , governor from 1969 to 1970, was born.
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1932
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The U.S. Signal Corps telegraph service began 24-hour continuous service in Juneau.
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1942
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The U.S. Army activated the Juneau post with 20 officers and 547 enlisted men.
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1969
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David Bruce of Houston, Texas, and Rita McCay of Windsor, Ontario were married in a candlelit igloo near Nome , believed to be the only authentic snow house.
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1979
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A major earthquake measuring between 7.5 and 8.0 on the Richter scale occurred beneath the St. Elias mountains.
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2
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1903
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An Act of Congress provided for a submarine telegraph cable from Seattle to Sitka and Juneau.
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1906
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Wilford B. Hoggatt took office as Governor of the Territory of Alaska, appointed by President Teddy Roosevelt.
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1942
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Contract air mail service was inaugurated between Juneau and Sitka.
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1942
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Construction began on the Alaska-Canadian Highway .
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1959
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The deepest hole ever drilled in Alaska was plugged and abandoned as a dry hole.
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1959
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Alaska officially received the "official versions" of the pound, ounce, yard, foot, and gallon.
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1975
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Two people in New Stoyahok died of botulism after eating fermented beaver tail.
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3
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1832
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William Duncan, Church of England missionary and founder of Metlakatla , was born in England.
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1891
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The Trade and Manufacturing Act was extended to Alaska.
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1901
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The Board of Trade Saloon opened in Nome, adorned by "handsome fixtures, as rich looking as though they had been the work of artists," handsome gilt mirrors and a hand-carved bar.
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1913
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The first Alaska Territorial Legislature convened in the Elks Hall in Juneau. The first House bill approved suffrage to women.
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1959
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Elenor Lee, of Nome , won the evening gown division of America's Junior Miss Pageant.
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1973
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The first Iditarod Sled Dog Race was held, from Anchorage to Nome.
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4
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1728
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Captain James Cook was born. Cook was an early explorer for whom Cook Inlet near Anchorage was named.
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1892
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The post office in Ketchikan was established with George W. Clark as postmaster.
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1895
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The S.S. Willapa sailed from Seattle to begin Alaska Steamship Company service to Alaska.
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1909
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James Wickersham was seated as the third delegate in the U.S. Congress from Alaska.
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1939
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The Territorial Senate killed a bill appropriating $14,000 to subsidize radio stations in the Territory of Alaska to "disseminate facts and information."
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1960
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A demonstration run of three "Iron Dogs" - gas powered ski-equipped sleds - began in Bethel enroute to Fairbanks .
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5
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1887
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Miners went on strike in Treadwell, on Douglas Island near Juneau, seeking wage increases to $3 a day and board.
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1898
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The steamer Whitelaw burned at Skagway , the loss estimated at $50,000.
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1909
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The office and plant of the Alaska Daily Record burned in Juneau.
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1920
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The newspaper Alaska Daily Capital was established in Juneau.
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1959
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Mt. Hubley in Northeast Alaska, was named after Dr. Richard Hubley, a University of Washington meteorologist.
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1959
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15 Vehicles and 50-plus families leave Detroit, Michigan towards Alaska to homestead on the Kenai Peninsula, travelling as the "Detroit '59'ers ."
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1963
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Marie Drake , author of the words to Alaska's Flag - the state song - died.
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1969
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Rep. Stan Cornelius (R-Anch) submitted a resolution which requested the governor to proclaim October "Country Music Month" in Alaska.
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6
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1903
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Homer Bird was hanged at Sitka for a murder committed on the Yukon.
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1910
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The weekly newspaper The Alaska Citizen was established in Fairbanks.
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1913
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Congress reduced the appropriation for the First Territorial Legislature to $46,260. Half the money was for legislators salaries.
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1959
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The Detroit 59'ers arrive in Angola, Indiana.
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1973
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Voters went to the polls in a special election to choose between Emil Notti and Don Young to replace U.S. Congressman Nick Begich , who was killed in a plane crash.
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1988
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An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale was reported in the Gulf of Alaska.
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7
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1887
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Arthur Delaney was appointed Alaska Collector of Customs. He was Juneau's first mayor and also a U.S. District Judge.
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1914
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The 40-stamp Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company pilot mill started crushing ore on the Juneau waterfront.
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1919
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A $50,000 fire destroyed much of the business district of the mining town of McCarthy.
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1950
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Ground was broken for the Mendenhall Apartments in Juneau.
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1959
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The Alaska State House approved a bill to pay the governor, then killed it in free conference.
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1959
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The Detroit '59'ers neared the state of Wisconsin.
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1969
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Seven climbers began their attempt on Mt. Kimball, at 10,350 feet, the highest mountain in the eastern Alaska range, and one that had never been successfully climbed.
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1988
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Vern Tejas completed the first solo ascent of Mt. McKinley.
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8
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1913
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The weekly newspaper, The Commoner, was established in Valdez by John W. Frame.
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1960
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Over Governor William Egan's veto, the Alaska State Legislature passed a bill allowing games of chance to be operated by civic, religious and service organizations. This bill legalized the Nenana Ice Classic , which began in 1917.
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1969
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The University of Alaska fired rockets with barium payloads into the atmosphere, brightening Alaskan skies during March, to study "solar-terrestrial relationships."
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9
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1911
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A fire destroyed a dozen buildings in the business district of Douglas.
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1959
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The Air Force launched an investigation into reports of the Explorer satellite exploding over Alaska. (It was either that or a UFO.)
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1959
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The Detroit 59'ers resumed their trip to Alaska from Michigan, after getting new tires in Minnesota.
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1969
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The University of Alaska received a $10,000 grant to collect and analyze Indian, Eskimo, and Aleut languages.
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1975
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Work began on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.
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10
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1938
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The town of Port Alexander at the south end of Baranof Island was incorporated.
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1938
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The Baranof Hotel formally opened in Juneau with a gala celebration.
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1939
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Home and office long-distance service was inaugurated in Juneau. It was no longer necessary to place calls from the Federal Building.
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1959
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The Alaska State House approved a salary of $25,000 for the Governor of Alaska.
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1959
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The Detroit '59'ers , travelling from Michigan to homestead on the Kenai Peninsula, arrived in North Dakota.
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1964
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Mt. Pogrommi, on Unimak Island, erupted, sending flaming chunks of rock 5,000 feet into the air.
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11
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1726
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Russian navigator Vasilii Chichagov, for whom Chichagof Island in Southeast Alaska was named, was born.
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1942
|
The SS Mt. McKinley was wrecked in the Aleutian Islands.
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1948
|
The Nome Hospital burned.
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1969
|
The State Highway Department completed construction of the winter road to North Slope Oil fields.
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12
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1914
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Construction of a government railroad in Alaska was approved by President Woodrow Wilson.
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1959
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The United States Congress voted Hawaii in as the 50th state in the Union.
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1959
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The Detroit '59'ers , travelling from Michigan to homestead on the Kenai Peninsula, arrived in Montana.
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1969
|
An atomic scientist suggested that the government explore the idea of using nuclear blasts to create an artificial island in the Arctic Ocean as an aid to tap vast oil deposits east of Point Barrow .
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