The history of Alaska dates back to the Paleolithic Era when it was
inhabited by people who crossed the Bering Land Bridge in western
Alaska. At the time of European contact by the Russian explorers, the
area was populated by the Eskimos and a variety of Native American
groups. Vitus Bering, a Danish navigator in the service of the Russian
Navy aboard the St. Peter, is often is credited with the discovery of
Alaska. William H. Seward, the U.S. Secretary of State engineered the
Alaskan purchase on April 9, 1867 for US$7.2 million (approximately
US$90 million in 2005 dollars). The nearby Yukon Territory in Canada
and Alaska itself were the site of a gold rush in the 19th century,
and they remained a significant source of mining even after gold
reserves diminished. On July 7, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower
signed the Alaska Statehood Act into law which paved the way for
Alaska's admission into the Union as the 49th State on January 3,
1959.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Alaska
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1863:
The Football Association, the oldest governing body in football, was
formed in London in England.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_Association)
1881:
The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place in Tombstone, Arizona,
United States.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunfight_at_the_O.K._Corral)
1955:
Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem declared himself President of South
Vietnam, replacing Nguyen Emperor Bao Dai as the head of state.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngo_Dinh_Diem)
1979:
President Park Chunghee of South Korea was assassinated by the
director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency and a long-time
friend, Kim Jaekyu.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Chunghee)
2001:
U.S. President George W. Bush signed the USA PATRIOT Act into law.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act)
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Wikiquote of the day:
"I know that it will hurt, I know that it will break your heart, the
way things are, and the way they've been. Don't spread the discontent,
don't spread the lies, don't make the same mistakes with your own
life." -- Natalie Merchant
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Natalie_Merchant)