The MRAK Almanac is your place for political, cultural, and civic events, events where you’ll meet political leaders or, if you are interested in getting to know your state, these are great places to meet conservative- and moderate-leaning Alaskans.
Alaska Fact Book:
Question: How many national parks are in Alaska?
Answer: There are a total of eight national parks in Alaska. They are:
- Denali
- Gates of the Arctic
- Glacier Bay
- Katmai
- Kenai Fjords (the smallest in Alaska)
- Kobuk Valley
- Lake Clark
- Wrangell-St. Elias (the largest in Alaska as well as the entire United States)
Alaska and California were tied in number of national parks until 2013 when California’s Pinnacles National Monument was elevated to a national park, bringing the Golden State’s national park tally to nine.
7/29: The Alaska House and Senate are both set to gavel in at 11 am this morning. House Finance will hold a meeting at 9 am in Juneau to continue their consideration of HB2001.
7/29: State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board will hold a special meeting via teleconference at 1 pm. The board will be considering ongoing liquor license applications and proposed regulation changes. Read the agenda here.
7/30: University of Alaska Board of Regents meeting in Anchorage. The regents will be discussing options for restructuring the university as well as hearing a presentation from the Office of Management & Budget about a “step-down” deal with Governor Dunleavy. Read the agenda here.
7/30: Live music in the Golden Heart Plaza in downtown Fairbanks. Begins at 12:30, free to attend.
7/30: Veterans Appreciation Dinner, generously sponsored by the American Legion Post #25 in Juneau. All veterans and their families are invited to attend. Will take place from 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the Juneau Yacht Club.
7/30: Alaska VA Town Hall in Juneau at 5 pm. All veterans and their families are invited to attend to share their experiences and concerns with Alaska VA officials. The meeting will take place at the Juneau Public Library.
7/30: Fan Appreciation Day for the Mat-Su Miners baseball team in Palmer. This will be the final home game of the season for the Miners, and first pitch will take place at 6 pm against the Chugiak/Eagle River Chinooks.
7/30: Are you a female veteran? There will be a veteran round table talk in Anchorage specifically for the women who’ve served our nation in the military. In addition, there will be federal congressional staffers present to hear your concerns about the VA. Read more at the Facebook link here.
7/30: Lunch on the Lawn outside the Anchorage museum at 11:30 am. This weekly event features free entertainment, live music, and several local food vendors. Come enjoy the waning summer months in style.
7/30: Come eat free sushi and tour new construction in Anchorage’s quickly developing Westgate community, just minutes from Kincaid Park. There are several completed homes ready for move in. Tours begin at 4 pm, further details here.
7/30: The controversy-embroiled Alaska State Commission for Human Rights will meet in Anchorage at 9:30 am to discuss their search for an acting executive director. Read the agenda here.
7/30: The Big Game Commercial Services Board will meet in Anchorage at 9 am. The board will be discussing proposed regulation changes as well as considering new applications. Read the full board packet here.
Alaska History Archive:
July 29, 1900—119 years ago: Construction was completed on the widely known White Pass & Yukon Route railroad linking Skagway and Whitehorse. The new route provided a safe, rapid alternative to the treacherous Chilkoot Trail during the Klondike Gold Rush at the turn of the century. In 2018, Carnival Cruise Lines purchased the railway for $290 million.
July 30, 1904—115 years ago: The first telegraph message between the continental United States and Alaska was sent. The newly constructed undersea cable stretched from Seattle to Sitka (then one of Alaska’s most populous cities) and took several years to complete. The USS General Burnside, a civil war vessel turned crucial line-laying ship, had the honor of sending the first message over the line.