FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2021-201 DAILY FEATURE:
By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)
LOVELAND, OH (October 18, 2021) – In Issue 2021-201 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps, we celebrate Alaska joining the union known as the United States of America!
RUSSIAN AMERICA
Russians arrived in what they later called Russian America in 1732, primarily interested in animal fur. There were about as many as Native Americans in the vast land area as Russians a few years later.
After the Crimean war, the Czar was interested in selling this land, not being keen on potentially having to wage another war with the British. The US stepped up after the Civil war as a potential buyer. The sale was formally ratified in 1867 on this day for $7.2 million (133 million in 2020 dollars), or about 0.02 cents/acre.
Over time this land proved its value from mining gold to drilling for black gold (crude, that is), to strategic location, and so on.
It joined the union in 1959 as the state of Alaska.
This map of the newly acquired land is by Mitchell. It shows very little detail of the interior when the map was issued in 1971.
Alaska: the newly acquired land map – 1971 (Credit Steve Kovacs)
Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.
Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Antique Maps & Fun Facts here on Loveland Beacon.
