Happy Alaska Day, MRAKers! Today commemorates the official transfer ceremony solidifying America’s purchase of the Alaskan territories from the Russian Empire. On October 18, 1867, U.S. Army troops raised the American flag on Castle Hill in Sitka and lowered the Russian flag.
This formal transfer occurred nearly half a year after Seward signed the Alaska Purchase on March 30, 1867. The U.S. purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire for $7.2 million or 2 cents an acre (equivalent to $158 million or 44 cents an acre today).
The Alaska State Legislature adopted Oct 18 or “Alaska Day” as a state holiday in 1917. In 2021, Governor Dunleavy issued an Executive Proclamation reinforcing the observance of this holiday.
In celebration, Sitka hosts an annual Alaska Day Festival chock full of music, traditional dances, sales, cook-offs, auctions, races, variety shows and other fun activities. The theme for the 2025 Alaska Day Festival is “Mushers & Medicine: The Serum Run.” Activities began last Saturday, Oct 11, and culminates today with the fantastic Alaska Day Parade followed by the flag-raising reenactment ceremony this afternoon. On Friday night, Sitka hosted its long-loved Alaska Day Ball with music by Fort Wainwright’s 9th Army Band. Participants could either rent traditional 1860s dresses or wear their favorite formal outfits.
Alaska Day offers Alaskans an opportunity to unite and celebrate our great state and the freedoms we enjoy as part of the United States of America.
October 21, 2025. The American Flag comes down in Alaska, the Putin, Union Uni-Party flag goes up all over Alaska. Cheered by the Anchorage Assembly, and the Alaska State Legislature. Voted in by the people, we will be just like Nea York City with Mandami. To All Alaskan’s —– If you fall asleep at the wheel. You drive off the road.
Wonderful day. We have those of a particular political leaning who’ve decried this day as colonialism and called Seward a racist. What they fail to realize is that Seward had worked with then President Lincoln in the abolition of slavery. If Alaska would have remained in the hands of the Russians, indigenous peoples would have fallen victim to Stalin. The Japanese Imperial Army also set forth an invasion in June of 1942 only to be repelled. Today there are still Russian bombers and Chinese warships plying the area, but we’re protected by the world’s finest armed forces.
This very shallow article is not consistent with other well written articles by Natalie. Disappointing.
Argentina deserves $40 billion
Did the hippies still have their No King cryfest by the lake in Sitka?
I would hate for AK Day to interfere w/ that.
My wife and I were in Sitka on October 17,18, 19, 2018 for this celebration. It was a fun three days. We became groupies for the fireman’s pipe and drum band that came up from the Seattle area as they made their way around the city. I think that they went to every bar in town and the Baranoff Brewery and never had to buy a beer.
I here it’s awesome. Someday!