“North to the Future” is Alaska’s state motto, adopted in 1967 during the centennial celebrations of its purchase from Russia. It represents the promise of opportunity in a beautiful, sparsely populated state with vast natural resources. The motto was chosen through a competition, with a prize of $300 awarded to the winner. Alaska has other symbols and emblems, including the moose, the “Flag of Alaska,” and the Sitka spruce, all chosen to promote pride and patriotism.
Alaska’s state motto, “North to the Future” was officially adopted in 1967 during the centennial celebrations of its purchase from Russia in 1867. It is said to hold the promise of opportunity in this beautiful, vast, and sparsely populated state located between the North Pacific and the Arctic, west of Canada. A contest was held to get suggestions, submitted by the public, for the Alaska state motto ahead of the celebrations.
Initially called “Russian Alaska,” the territory was first discovered by Europeans in the 1700s, when numerous Russian sailors made voyages of exploration, landed, and came into contact with the Eskimos who lived there. For decades after this initial contact, many Russian trips were made to Alaska to gather geographic information and learn about its people, climate, and resources. Besides the accumulation of knowledge, the most lucrative of the land’s resources, the fur of animals such as seals, was initially the main source of interest for the Russians.
In the late 1700s, the Russian government established itself in Alaska with a company called the Russian American Company, whose chief director was also the governor. Alaska then went through a long period of intermittent fighting during which natives fought over their resources and land, as did various European countries. William Seward organized the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 and in 1959 it became the 49th state of the United States.
The motto was established in 1967. Large celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Alaska Purchase were planned and in preparation for these a competition was held in 1963 asking Alaskans to submit suggestions for the state motto of Alaska. Richard Peter, a reporter from the capital of Juneau, suggested “North to the Future” which was judged the winning film and became the state motto during the centennial celebrations in 1967. He stated that he chose it to represent the Alaskan place of freedom, a promising state filled with natural resources and vast tracts of open land. A prize of $300 US dollars was awarded to Peter.
The Alaska state motto is just one of many symbols and emblems that represent Alaska. The moose is its state animal, the “Flag of Alaska” its state song, and the Sitka spruce its state tree. All of these are synonymous with Alaska and have been carefully chosen to promote pride and patriotism in Alaska.
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