Alaskas Russian Era

Bering and his assistant finally discover Alaska for the Europeans

Jul 15, 1741

Jult 15th Alexei Chirikof, Bering's assistant, sights mainland Alaska but does not make landing.

Aleuts try to repel Russian "invaders"

Jul 18, 1763

Aleuts try to repel Russian "invaders" in Unalaska, Umnak, and Unimak. Russia responded by destroying the villages of Unalaska and Umnak.

Captain James Cook

Jan 2, 1778

While looking for the elusive Northwest Passage, British Explorer Captain James Cook explored the waterway that downtown Anchorage now borders, Cook Inlet. He also reaches King Island, Norton Sound, and Unalaska.

Grigorii Shelikov

Feb 2, 1784

Grigorii Shelikov establishes first white settlement at Three Saints Bay, Kodiak.

Alexander Baranov

Jan 2, 1799

Alexander Baranov establishes Russian post known today as Old Sitka; trade charter grants exclusive trading rights to the Russian American Company.

smallpox

Jun 20, 1839

The Dena'ina population is decimated by smallpox

oil

Jan 1, 1853

Russian explorer-trappers find oil seeps in Cook Inlet.

Coal

Jan 1, 1857

Coal mining begings at Coal Harbor on the Kenai Peninsula.

GOLD!

Jan 2, 1861

Gold discovered on Stikine River near Telegraph Creek.

sale of Alaska

Mar 30, 1867

the "sale" of Alaska by Russia to the United States 7.2 million dollars - which rightfully belonged to neither. Treaty of purchase was signed by American Secretary of State William H. Seward and Russian envoy Eduard de Stoeckl