Alaska Celebrates 155 Years of U.S. Sovereignty on Alaska Day

Join Alaskans in commemorating 155 years of U.S. sovereignty. Reflect on the transfer's impact and celebrate the state's rich history and resources.

, and Administrator

2025 October 18 . 6:05 PM

1 min read

In this picture there is an american flag on the left side of the image.

Alaska Celebrates 155 Years of U.S. Sovereignty on Alaska Day

On October 18, Alaskans celebrate Alaska Day, marking the 155th anniversary of the territory's transfer from Russia to the United States. The day commemorates the formal handover ceremony in Sitka, where the Russian flag was lowered and the U.S. flag raised, signifying the start of American sovereignty. This event also invites reflection on the complex legacy of the transfer, including the dispossession and cultural impact on Alaska Native communities.

The purchase of Alaska, then known as Russian America, was negotiated by U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward in March 1867. The deal cost $7.2 million, a sum many Americans initially ridiculed as 'Seward's Folly', questioning the territory's strategic or economic value. Despite the skepticism, the U.S. Senate ratified the treaty in May, and the transfer became legally effective on October 18, 1867.

Administratively, Alaska entered U.S. hands as an unorganized territory. It was governed by different U.S. departments until it became an organized territory in 1884, with John Henry Kinkead serving as the first U.S. Governor of Alaska. Over time, Alaska's rich natural resources, including fisheries, timber, gold, and oil, proved the investment's worth, justifying the initial purchase.

Today, Alaska Day celebrations include parades and reenactments, honouring the historic transfer. The holiday serves as a reminder of Alaska's unique history and the complex legacy of its acquisition, as well as the state's resilience and growth since then.