Department of Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Department of Alaska |
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| 1867–1884 | |||||||||
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 Map of the Department of Alaska |
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| Capital | Sitka | ||||||||
| Government | |||||||||
| • Type | Unorganized territory | ||||||||
| Governor | |||||||||
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• 1868–1870
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Jefferson C. Davis | ||||||||
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• 1874
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George B. Rodney | ||||||||
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• 1884
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Henry E. Nichols | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
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• Department of Alaska
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18 October 1867 | ||||||||
| 17 May 1884 | |||||||||
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| History of Alaska |
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| Prehistory |
| Russian America (1733–1867) |
| Department of Alaska (1867–1884) |
| District of Alaska (1884–1912) |
| Territory of Alaska (1912–1959) |
| State of Alaska (1959–present) |
| Other topics |
The Department of Alaska was the name for how Alaska was governed after the United States bought it in 1867. This period lasted until 1884, when Alaska became the District of Alaska. During these years, different parts of the U.S. government were in charge. First, the U.S. Army managed Alaska until 1877. Then, the U.S. Dept. of the Treasury took over until 1879. Finally, the U.S. Navy was in charge from 1879 until 1884. After being a district, Alaska later became a territory and then a state.
Contents
Buying Alaska: The Big Purchase
The idea to buy Alaska came from William Seward, who was the U.S. Secretary of State. On April 9, 1867, the United States Senate agreed to buy Alaska from the Russian Empire. The price was $7,200,000.
Flag Day in Alaska
The United States flag was first raised in Alaska on October 18, 1867. This day is now celebrated as Alaska Day. When ownership changed, the International Date Line was moved. Also, Alaska switched from the old Julian calendar to the newer Gregorian calendar. This meant that for people living there, the day after Friday, October 6, 1867, was Friday, October 18, 1867. It was like skipping 11 days!
The Flag Raising Ceremony
On the morning of October 18, 1867, a ship called the USS Ossipee arrived in Sitka. On board were Russian and American officials. That afternoon, about 250 American soldiers and 80 Russian soldiers gathered. The Russian-American Company Chief Manager, Prince Maksutov, and his wife were also there. A group of local people watched as the flag of Russia was lowered. Then, the U.S. flag was raised in its place. This happened at the governor's residence, on what is now called "Baranof Castle Hill".
Both flags received a cannon salute. Each official gave a short speech. There's a story that the Russian soldier lowering his flag accidentally tore it. The flag then fell onto the bayonets of the Russian soldiers. Princess Maksutov is said to have fainted when she saw this.
"Seward's Folly"
Many people in the United States thought buying Alaska was a good idea. However, some people criticized the purchase. They called it "Seward's Folly" or "Seward's Icebox." They thought it was a foolish waste of money on a frozen wasteland. But soon, the valuable resources of Alaska showed that it was a very smart deal. Alaska celebrates this purchase every year on the last Monday of March. This day is known as Seward's Day.
Exploring the New Land
When the United States first bought Alaska, huge parts of it had not been explored by Europeans or Americans from the "Lower 48" states.
Early Telegraph Efforts
In 1865, a company called Western Union planned to build a telegraph line across Alaska. This line would go to the Bering Strait and connect with an Asian line. Robert Kennicott was part of a Western Union team surveying the land. He led his crew to Nulato, on the Yukon River. He died the next year, and William Healey Dall took over the scientific work. The Western Union expedition did the first scientific studies of the area. They also created the first map of the entire Yukon River. In 1866, workers successfully laid a telegraph cable under the Atlantic Ocean. Because of this, the Alaska overland project was stopped. Dall returned to Alaska many times to record and name geological features.
River Expeditions
The Alaska Commercial Company also helped explore Alaska in the late 1800s. They built trading posts along the many rivers in the interior. Small groups of trappers and traders went into these areas. Even though the government didn't spend much money on the region, army officers sometimes explored on their own.
One explorer was Lt. Frederick Schwatka. He and his group rafted the Yukon River from Lake Lindeman in Canada to Saint Michael. This was near the river's mouth on the Bering Sea. In 1885, Lt. Henry T. Allen and four others started from the Gulf of Alaska. They followed the Copper River, crossed a mountain range, and traveled down the Tanana River to the Yukon. They then carried their boats to the Kanuti and Koyukuk rivers. Allen went up the Koyukuk, then back down the Yukon. He then crossed to Unalakeet on the coast and made his way to Saint Michael. He explored about 1,500 miles of Interior Alaska.
Images for kids
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A robot for kids.
See also
In Spanish: Departamento de Alaska para niños
