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Alaska's History: The People, Land, and Events of the North Country
A lively, take-along account of Alaska's sweeping history made vivid with historical photos and entertaining essays. Topics covered include Native lifestyles before contact with the Europeans; Alexander Baranov and the Russian fur trade; John Muir's visit to Glacier Bay in 1879; the Klondike gold rush stampede; pioneer climbs on Mount McKinley; the exploits of early Alaska Bush pilots; big game hunting in the North Country; Alaska's fisheries, where salmon is king; and today's Native traditions.
A history book that's fun to read, Alaska's History sets forth the Last Frontier's glorious past and challenging present.
A history book that's fun to read, Alaska's History sets forth the Last Frontier's glorious past and challenging present.
144 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1993
39 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 21, 2022
We will be taking a trip to Alaska and, never have been there before, so I wanted to read this book to obtain some background knowledge. It was on the recommended list, covering topics on the exploration of Alaska, the native groups, economic development, etc. One thing that struck me is just how recent the history is - starting with the Russians in the late 1700’s.
Chapters average only about three pages each, including a photograph. At about 150 pages in total, don’t expect any in-depth information. For my purposes it filled the bill, but not much more. If you’re looking for something beyond that, you should probably look elsewhere.
Chapters average only about three pages each, including a photograph. At about 150 pages in total, don’t expect any in-depth information. For my purposes it filled the bill, but not much more. If you’re looking for something beyond that, you should probably look elsewhere.
June 24, 2025
Alaska’s history is full of struggle, survival, and big change. The land is huge—twice the size of Texas—and full of natural riches. But it’s harsh. As Harry Ritter writes in the book, “Alaska’s History: The People, Land, and Events of the North Country,” “People’s efforts to wrest a living from the region’s vast natural riches despite its extreme conditions” shaped everything.
The first people crossed from Siberia, walking across a now-sunken land bridge called “Beringia.” These early hunters spread out, survived the cold, and built deep spiritual lives. For example, the Athabascans saw all creation as one spirit world. They had rules and rituals for using nature wisely.
The Russians came in the 1740s, chasing fur. A single sea otter skin could bring “three times a man’s yearly income.” That brought profits—and pain. Measles and smallpox followed the traders. Native groups like the Aleuts dropped from thousands to just hundreds in a few decades.
Then came “Seward’s Folly.” In 1867, the U.S. bought Alaska for $7.2 million. Many thought it was a joke. But gold changed minds. The Klondike gold strike in 1896 pulled in “tens of thousands of stampeders.” They climbed steep trails, crossed icy rivers, and faced avalanches. Most didn’t strike it rich. Still, they stayed and helped build towns like Fairbanks and Skagway.
Some of Alaska’s heroes weren’t miners. Sheldon Jackson pushed for schools, claiming Natives needed both reading and faith. John Muir helped people see Alaska’s natural beauty. And Judge Wickersham fought for self-rule. In 1912, Alaska got its own legislature. By 1959, it became the 49th state.
World War II helped push that change. The war “pumped more than $1 billion in government money into the region.” Soldiers came, roads were built, and Alaska’s strategic value became clear. Later, the 1968 oil strike at Prudhoe Bay brought huge wealth. In 1981, oil money gave “more than $10,000 for every state resident.”
But the story isn’t just about money or statehood. It’s also about what was lost. Many Natives saw their lands, languages, and ways of life pushed aside. For a long time, promises to protect their rights weren’t kept.
Still, Alaska stands tall. Its people—past and present—keep pushing forward. That spirit is what makes the Great Land so powerful.
Top Takeaways From The Book
• Alaska Land Purchase (Seward’s Folly) – U.S. bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million
• Klondike Gold Rush – 1896 gold strike pulled thousands to Alaska, shaping cities like Skagway and Fairbanks
• Native Alaskan History and Culture – Athabascans, Aleuts, and Eskimos shaped early life with deep spiritual beliefs
• Russian Fur Trade in Alaska – Sea otter pelts drove early Russian expansion and huge profits in the 1700s
• Alaska Statehood in 1959 – Alaska became the 49th U.S. state after WWII boosted its strategic and economic value
• Prudhoe Bay Oil Discovery – 1968 oil strike triggered a major Alaska economic boom and the Alaska Permanent Fund
• World War II in Alaska – Japanese attacks in the Aleutians revealed Alaska’s military importance and sparked growth
• Sheldon Jackson and Native Education – Pushed for schools and reforms, shaping Alaska’s early public education system
• John Muir and Alaska Tourism – Naturalist who promoted Glacier Bay and helped launch Alaska’s tourism industry
• Loss of Native Lands and Traditions – U.S. expansion and modern development hurt Native rights, lands, and cultures
The first people crossed from Siberia, walking across a now-sunken land bridge called “Beringia.” These early hunters spread out, survived the cold, and built deep spiritual lives. For example, the Athabascans saw all creation as one spirit world. They had rules and rituals for using nature wisely.
The Russians came in the 1740s, chasing fur. A single sea otter skin could bring “three times a man’s yearly income.” That brought profits—and pain. Measles and smallpox followed the traders. Native groups like the Aleuts dropped from thousands to just hundreds in a few decades.
Then came “Seward’s Folly.” In 1867, the U.S. bought Alaska for $7.2 million. Many thought it was a joke. But gold changed minds. The Klondike gold strike in 1896 pulled in “tens of thousands of stampeders.” They climbed steep trails, crossed icy rivers, and faced avalanches. Most didn’t strike it rich. Still, they stayed and helped build towns like Fairbanks and Skagway.
Some of Alaska’s heroes weren’t miners. Sheldon Jackson pushed for schools, claiming Natives needed both reading and faith. John Muir helped people see Alaska’s natural beauty. And Judge Wickersham fought for self-rule. In 1912, Alaska got its own legislature. By 1959, it became the 49th state.
World War II helped push that change. The war “pumped more than $1 billion in government money into the region.” Soldiers came, roads were built, and Alaska’s strategic value became clear. Later, the 1968 oil strike at Prudhoe Bay brought huge wealth. In 1981, oil money gave “more than $10,000 for every state resident.”
But the story isn’t just about money or statehood. It’s also about what was lost. Many Natives saw their lands, languages, and ways of life pushed aside. For a long time, promises to protect their rights weren’t kept.
Still, Alaska stands tall. Its people—past and present—keep pushing forward. That spirit is what makes the Great Land so powerful.
Top Takeaways From The Book
• Alaska Land Purchase (Seward’s Folly) – U.S. bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million
• Klondike Gold Rush – 1896 gold strike pulled thousands to Alaska, shaping cities like Skagway and Fairbanks
• Native Alaskan History and Culture – Athabascans, Aleuts, and Eskimos shaped early life with deep spiritual beliefs
• Russian Fur Trade in Alaska – Sea otter pelts drove early Russian expansion and huge profits in the 1700s
• Alaska Statehood in 1959 – Alaska became the 49th U.S. state after WWII boosted its strategic and economic value
• Prudhoe Bay Oil Discovery – 1968 oil strike triggered a major Alaska economic boom and the Alaska Permanent Fund
• World War II in Alaska – Japanese attacks in the Aleutians revealed Alaska’s military importance and sparked growth
• Sheldon Jackson and Native Education – Pushed for schools and reforms, shaping Alaska’s early public education system
• John Muir and Alaska Tourism – Naturalist who promoted Glacier Bay and helped launch Alaska’s tourism industry
• Loss of Native Lands and Traditions – U.S. expansion and modern development hurt Native rights, lands, and cultures
September 27, 2024
The state of Alaska is the 49th state to enter the United States and has a history that is as unique as the other states that form the United States. Harry Ritter's "Alaska's History: The People, Land, and Events of the North Country" takes a look at the history of the Last Frontier and just how it has had its own history of colorful and checkered people throughout as the rest of the states. What makes this 2020 book beyond unique amongst the state history books I've ever read is that Ritter takes each topic in the history & does a 2-page essay on it while still keeping to the topics relevant to that segment of the state's history. Granted the book partly glosses over some of the more recent challenges to the state, but overall, this is definitely a decent historical look at this unique state that was once laughed about when the territory was purchased in 1867.
June 3, 2020
Very informative and historical. Written in 2 to 4 page snippets. A quick read. I read a few pages 2 years ago, then picked it up again and quickly finished it. I have traveled to Alaska twice and have done many tours, so it was of great interest. I purchased this book while visiting Skagway, Alaska.
June 23, 2021
This book offers a broad-sweeping, but thorough survey of Alaska's history. Equipped with this book's facts and stories, I can better appreciate my summer spent in alaska. It has provided a solid foundation of knowledge that I can now continously build upon
November 29, 2021
This makes a nice companion to Michener's fictionalized history of Alaska but it is dated and the two-pages per entry format seems contrived at times (sometimes too condensed and at other times stretched repetitively to fit the space).
July 23, 2023
If you are looking for an overview of Alaska’s history, this is the book for you. If you are looking for something in-depth, this might lead you in the direction you need to go but it’s too short to be in-depth.
June 19, 2024
A bit outdated and in need of revisions, this book overall gives a good, succinct overview of Alaska’s history. Super informative and wow - what a mighty beautiful, rugged, rough place this state is. Dare I say I’m in love?
September 21, 2017
Excellent summary of Alaskan history.
January 16, 2018
Entertaining and concise. Well written though advanced language. Not for independent reading if you're at the middle school or lower level.
March 6, 2021
It's a very quick, light overview of Alaska's history. It's decent for what it is but I was expecting something more in depth.
July 2, 2022
A concise non fictional account of Alaska. A condensed version of Michener's fictional book Alaska.
September 18, 2022
why is this book so unnecessarily concise????
November 27, 2023
Fun little history book. Just what i was looking for without having to read a long Michener novel. It kept things interesting by changing the focused topic every 2 pages. Loved the pictures!
November 4, 2024
Short, concise, easy to read in 2-3 page chapters! If you wanna quick overview of Alaska, this is it, with many more suggestions in the back for further reading.
June 20, 2025
A good overview of Alaska's history.
September 25, 2016
Like the brief trip to see this Last Frontier, this book only whets the appetite...Told in short vignettes, it covers much ground leaving the reader free to pursue his or her interests in another title.
April 22, 2015
This book talks about Alaska's history. It talks about how it came to be settled, who explored it, and any events that happened during that time. The book tells about the people in Alaska, and the things that the do. The book has a section that talks about the economy and environment, and some of the animals that are found in the state. There are many interesting stories, many that most people have heard, but many that many people do not know about. This book is better for an older child.
August 31, 2009
This book is a great, short introduction to a pretty comprehensive variety of topics in Alaskan history.
August 8, 2013
I learned so much about Alaska in this book. It is very well-written and interesting from cover to cover. I highly recommend this for tourists and even Alaska residents.
February 17, 2014
Fascinating quick history of Alaska I read for my course called Alaska Alive! through Alaska Pacific University.
January 19, 2016
Read on the train going to Denali Natl Park
May 24, 2018
Surprisingly interesting & entertaining for such a short book
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews