| Peter, a Danish sea Captain, who belonged to Russia | | | | a building boom. The Cold War in the 1940's brought |
| landed in Alaska and established Russia's claim to this | | | | about a huge population bloom and economic growth |
| Northwestern part of North America. | | | | because of defense U.S. Military Government's |
| After this many British, Spanish and French people | | | | spending here. |
| also started exploring the land in search of fur. They | | | | In 1949 Alaska started campaigning for statehood |
| started killing each other until the Chartering of | | | | and on 3 January 1959 Alaska got inducted as U.S.A.'s |
| Russian American Company in 1799. Under this | | | | forty ninth State. |
| Company's rule for the next 20 years fur was cut | | | | Up to now Alaska is economically better with Timber, |
| systematically. | | | | Sea Food, Oil and the Tourism attractions. |
| However in 1802 the settlement was broken by the | | | | Gold! The magic word drew thousands of Gold |
| local Tlingit Indians and they captured the Russians | | | | seekers into Alaska by 1886. They found scattered |
| and then Russia sent forces to rescue them. Battles | | | | Gold in many parts like Talkeetna Mountains. Robert |
| continued between the two until 1806 when most of | | | | Lee Hatcher discovered and staked claim on the first |
| the Russians left. | | | | lode Gold in the Willow Creek Valley in September |
| The economics of Russia had a disastrous effect in | | | | 1906. Lode mining was a little expensive job so many |
| domestic Russia. So they wanted to sell the land to | | | | new Companies came & started digging until all were |
| America. The deal took many years to materialize | | | | brought together under one Company 'Asia-Pacific |
| and on 8th May, 1867 a treaty was signed by | | | | Consolidated Mining Company. In 1942 when America |
| President. Andrew Johnson. The sale price was | | | | got into the World War II, all mining in U.S.A. was |
| $7,200,000 and very shortly Alaska was nicknamed | | | | stopped, but Independence Company continued to |
| Seward's Icebox. | | | | operate because the presence of sheelite. Sheelite |
| Until 1895 the territory of Alaska was totally | | | | along with Gold was a source of Tungsten, a |
| neglected and then in 1896 Gold was dug out from | | | | strategic metal. |
| Central Alaska along the River Yukon. Many Gold | | | | In 1943 The Independence Mine was ordered to |
| seekers started pouring into Alaska and new laws | | | | close. The ban was lifted after the War, but still the |
| had to be enacted. By 1907 a Tongass National | | | | Gold mining was rather slow. Due to post-war |
| Forest Reserve was created, Alaska's very first. | | | | inflation mining was not a profitable business. |
| On 24 August, 1912, Alaska gained the territorial | | | | Eventually in 1974, The Independence Mine got the |
| status by U.S.A. In spite of such a status Alaska still | | | | status of a Historical Heritage. |
| had a weak economy and the population was also | | | | South of Alaska - when Gold was discovered in |
| thinning. A Rail track was laid in 1914 between | | | | Canada's Yukon Territory, many Gold seekers went |
| Seward and Fairbanks. Several subsidies were | | | | there from Seattle across the country. Today it has |
| provided to Farmers who were brought there and | | | | been made a Park and has a visitor centre at |
| settled in Matanuska Valley Colony. | | | | Skagway, the center of Gold seeker's rush called |
| World War II did bring an influx of Military people and | | | | Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. |