Alaska is a land of extraordinary scale and natural beauty, home to about 740,000 people and more than half of the nation’s glaciers. Known as “The Last Frontier,” it combines vast wilderness, rugged mountains, rich Indigenous cultures, and a spirit of independence that makes it unlike any other state in the United States.
Alaska’s history stretches back thousands of years, with Indigenous peoples such as the Inupiat, Yup’ik, Aleut, Tlingit, Haida, and Athabascan communities shaping the region long before European contact. Russian explorers and traders arrived in the eighteenth century, establishing settlements and expanding the fur trade. In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in a deal that became known as the Alaska Purchase. The discovery of gold in the late nineteenth century brought waves of newcomers and accelerated development. During the twentieth century, Alaska gained strategic importance through military activity and transportation networks, while major oil discoveries transformed its economy. Alaska officially became the 49th state of the United States in 1959.
From breathtaking landscapes to vibrant local communities, Alaska offers countless opportunities to discover something new—explore what’s happening across the state and start planning your next adventure.