NATIONAL ALASKA DAY
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NATIONAL ALASKA DAY
On June 28 we celebrate Alaska on National Alaska Day and recognizes the largest state to join the union and the Nation’s Last Frontier. Unlike Alaska Day, celebrated on October 18 when Russian Empire was officially transferred to the United States, our National Alaska Day celebrates the beauty, the people, and the celebrations of Alaska.
#NationalAlaskaDay
Alaska the largest state in the U.S. and home to the highest mountain peaks in the country, including Mt. Denali. In The Last Frontier, it’s possible to test the theories associated with the Bering Land Bridge. Check out the remote and intriguing location of North America’s history.
Populated by Inuit, Yupik, Tlingit, and others natives long before Russian and European explorers found their way to the Arctic land, Alaska remote landscape supported indigenous people with sufficient whale fat, beaver, and fish.
The Land of the Midnight Sun led to the next great gold rush. Why wouldn't they? Many people ventured into the rugged North expecting to find riches in the Klondike. Unfortunately those who traveled to this beautiful state, would find it difficult to get it back out again…alive. The vast terrain and unknown wilderness was nothing like anyone had ever seen or experienced before.
In 1925, Leonhard Seppala along with several other mushers delivered much-needed anti-diphtheria serum to Nome along the same route. The Iditarod race takes place in Alaska and runs 1,150 miles from Anchorage to Nome. Honoring the traditions of the sled dog culture and the Iditarod Trail, the annual event draws thousands of spectators and online viewers. If you are ever in Alaska the first Saturday in March, check out one of the most famous and dangerous races in the world.
On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state.
Alaska is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth. Whether you're hiking on a mountain trail or strolling in a coastal town, Alaska's scenery will captivate anyone who visits.
Venture into Glacier Bay for glimpses of an icy blue you’ll see nowhere else on Earth. Listen for the rugged mountains of ice collapsing into the bay or seek the humpback whales breaking the surface. The sights and sounds of the bay are as abundant as the history, too. The immense Denali National Park and Preserve is home to glaciers, fossil records, and a study in geology. All along the Alaska Range, the pristine wilderness provides hikers the most well-marked trails outstanding views, and peaceful vistas.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL ALASKA DAY
Join National Day Calendar as we celebrate National Alaska Day. Discover the wildest places and peaceful spaces. Go where the land meets the sky. Find adventure in The Land of the Midnight Sun and use #NationalAlaskaDay to share on social media.
Interesting People from Alaska
A civil rights leader for the Tlingit people, Elizabeth Jean Wanamaker Peratrovich, strived to bring to light the discrimination occurring in her state. Her efforts brought forth equal rights legislation in Alaska before the Civil Rights movement had picked up steam in the rest of the United States.
Marie Smith Jones was the last native speaker of the Eyak language. She spoke the language fluently, and it was possible, through her, to create an Eyak dictionary with the help of the University of Alaska.
The cartoonist of the syndicated Big George character, Virgil Partch created absurd situations with hilarious outcomes.
Best known for his role in Pee-wee’s Playhouse, John Paragon has also taken on the co-writing and advised on Disney park attractions.
Velma Wallis published two works of fiction about survival in ancient Alaska. Her memoir,Raising Ourselves, tells her coming of age story in the Alaskan Yukon.
A right-handed pitcher, Curt Schilling, played for several Major League Baseball teams in his 20 seasons. The three-time World Series Champion played most notably for the Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Boston Red Sox.
Mario Chalmers is a point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies. He was drafted as the 34th pick overall in the 2008 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.