During World War II, the US government forcibly displaced 881 Indigenous people from Alaska’s Aleutian Islands to camps in Southeast Alaska due to Japanese military raids. The Aleuts faced miserable conditions in the camps and remained silent for years. The US apologized in 1988 and provided reparations. Most Americans are familiar with President Franklin D. […]
Alaska has had two state seals, both designed before it became a state. The current seal depicts natural beauty, resources, and industry, with a fish and seal representing seafood wealth. Use of the seal without permission can result in a fine. Alaska has had two state seals, both designed many years before it became a […]
The willow ptarmigan is Alaska’s state bird and one of three ptarmigan species. Both males and females change their appearance with the seasons and have different eating habits. They build nests in sheltered areas and both genders participate in egg care. They are the most abundant ptarmigan subspecies in Alaska. The willow ptarmigan, a grouse, […]
The chinook salmon, also known as king salmon, is the official state fish of Alaska. It is prized for its flavor, size, and fighting spirit. Fishing is critical to Alaska’s economy, with fish harvesting and processing accounting for 120% of all jobs. King salmon can grow to enormous proportions and have an interesting life cycle, […]
The moose is the official state animal of Alaska, with males growing large antlers and weighing over 1,000 pounds. They inhabit wooded and rural areas, but can also be found in populated areas. Other recognized animals in Alaska include the bowhead whale, willow ptarmigan, Alaskan Malamute, king salmon, and the four-spot skimmer dragonfly. The moose, […]
“Alaska’s Flag” is the state song, written by Marie Drake and set to music by Elinor Dusenbury. It describes the blue skies and gold stars of the state flag, designed by Benny Benson. The song was adopted in 1955, four years before Alaska became a state. Alaska’s state song is titled “Alaska’s Flag,” which was […]
The Sitka spruce is Alaska’s state tree, but it cannot represent the state in the Grove of State Trees in Washington, DC due to its unsuitable climate. The Alaska cedar has replaced it in the grove. The Sitka spruce is the tallest spruce in the world and its wood is used in various industries. It […]
“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 […]
Climate change has been a threat for thousands of years, as shown by the disappearance of woolly mammoths on St. Paul Island due to a heat spell. The last known group of mammoths went extinct 4,000 years ago. Global warming might seem like a recent phenomenon, but the truth is that climate change has been […]
