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Joseph Lowndes

Exit Realty of Alaska

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Anchorage

About Anchorage

Anchorage is located in a region referred to as Southcentral Alaska. This region is easily accessible to air, land and sea and is the first stop for many visitors to the state. Almost half of Alaska’s residents live in this area surrounded by miles of coast, mountain ranges, hundreds of lakes and rivers, glaciers, ski resorts, excellent fishing and recreational opportunities and nearly 20 state parks.

Anchorage History

Although Russian sailors led by the Dane Vitus Bering had established trading posts in Western and parts of Southcentral Alaska more than 30-years earlier, the English explorer Captain James Cook is credited with first exploring Southcentral Alaska in 1778. Under Captain Cook’s third attempt at finding the elusive Northwest Passage he reached the shores of the land that is now known as Anchorage, and mistook one of the arms of the inlet for a river. Thus, he named the water “River Turnagain”; later the water was renamed the Turnagain Arm by another British explorer, George Vancouver.

Russian explorers continued to establish trading posts across Alaska and during the next 100 years the Russian influence on the state continued to grow. In fact, it was not until March 30, 1867 that the United States purchased the Alaska territory from Russia. U.S. Secretary of State William Seward prompted the national government to purchase the territory from the Russians for $7.2 million (about 2 cents per acre). Seward was mocked by national politicians for his perceived poor judgment and the purchase was then known as “Seward’s Folly”. It took 101 years and the first major discovery of a oil field for “Seward’s Folly” to be recognized as an asset to the country.

On March 12, 1914 the U.S. Congress authorized the construction of the Alaska Railroad, clearing the way for the only railroad in history to be owned and operated by the U.S. Government. The next year, in 1915, President Woodrow Wilson authorized funds for the construction of the Alaska Railroad and selected the railroad’s route. That year, 2,000 Americans flooded the Ship Creek valley (near present-day downtown Anchorage) looking for federal employment.

On July 9, 1915 President Wilson authorized the “Great Anchorage Lot Sale”, a land auction where the first 600 plots of land in Anchorage were sold. Businesses began spreading across the newly organized Fourth Avenue, where many buildings remain today. The first Pioneer School was established one day later and the beginnings of modern-day Anchorage took shape.

Visitor Information

The natural beauty and abundant wildlife of Alaska continue to attract visitors from across the globe. Alaska is known as the “Last Frontier” and is the largest state in the United States. In fact, Alaska totals one-fifth the size of the entire continental U.S! It is the abundance of protected state and federal land and sheer size of undeveloped territory that offers visitors access to pristine terrain, seemingly untouched by man.

Even the state’s largest city, Anchorage, is a metropolis surrounded by wilderness. Its residents often find themselves host to some of Alaska’s well-known wildlife. It is not uncommon to see moose in the backyard of residential area or even black or brown bear in north and south Anchorage!

When traveling to Alaska, remember that the state is BIG. In fact Alaska is the most northern, western and eastern state in the union. (This is because some of the Aleutian Chain extends into the Eastern Hemisphere.)

The topography varies greatly across the state; south east Alaska is home to natural rainforests, northern Alaska features tundra and frozen ice caps, while southcentral Alaska consist of miles of coastline, stunning mountains and wooded forests. Make sure to allow yourself enough time to enjoy the beauty across the state and to travel from one scenic area to another. Verify travel times with your travel agent or when you reserve accommodations.

When booking your trip to the “Last Frontier” don’t pass by the state’s largest city, Anchorage. Anchorage has numerous scenic beauties, miles of trails and coastline, wildlife viewing opportunities, world-class fishing, cultural museums and unique experiences---all within city limits.