It Happened in Alaska: Remarkable Events that Shaped History

by Diane Olthuis

Overview

The remote, unforgiving landscape and colossal—and unpredictably unstable—mountain ranges of Alaska have kept at bay many a faint-hearted outsider, but the lure of this territory’s beauty, as well as its rich and vast resources, continues to entice adventuresome natives and outsiders alike. It Happened in Alaska goes behind the scenes to tell its story, in short episodes that reveal the intriguing people and events that have shaped The Land of the Midnight Sun. In an easy-to-read style that's entertaining and informative, Alaska resident Diane Olthius recounts some of her state's most captivating moments.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493023486
Publisher:	TwoDot
Publication date:	05/15/2016
Series:	It Happened in the West Series
Edition description:	2nd Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Diane Olthuis moved to Alaska in 1977 to teach on remote St. Paul Island. She has hiked the Chilkoot Trail, climbed Mount Denali, canoed the Yukon River, and kayaked Glacier Bay. The tiny community of Hope is her home, and is where she directs the Hope and Sunrise Historical and Mining Museum. Diane is the author of Historical Building Survey Report: Hope, Alaska and Goldpan, Trapline and Camera: The Harry A. Johnson Album.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Map xii

Introduction xiii

Russians Meet Alaskans on the Rocks!, The Aleutian Chain-1741 1

The Search for the Northwest Passage, The Alaskan Coastline-1778 7

Slaves of the Seal Harvest, Pribilof Islands-1786 13

The Battle of Sitka, Sitka-1802 & 1804 18

Little Girl on a Bering Sea Whaler, Bering Sea-1857 24

Rebel Raiders in the Bering Sea, Bering Sea-1865 30

Science and Madness on the Yukon River, Yukon River-1865 35

Did America Buy Fort Yukon?, Fort Yukon-1869 41

Adventure on Ice, Glacier Bay-1880 47

Cook Inlet Shipwreck, Cook Inlet-1890 53

Powerful Giving, Klukwan-1890 57

Reindeer Rescue, Teller-1894 63

Death on the Glacier, Portage-1897 68

Avalanche on the Chilkoot Trail, Dyea-1898 74

Soapy Smith Shot in Skagway, Skagway-1898 80

Harriman Bags His Bear, Kodiak-1899 86

Railroad Wars, Valdez-1907 91

Mount Katmai Erupts, Mount Katmai-1912 96

To the Top of Denali, Mount Denali-1913 101

Saving Nome, Nome-1925 106

Welcome Back, Musk Ox, Fairbanks-1930 112

Japanese Capture Kiska Island, Kiska Island-1942 117

Barrow Duck-In, Barrow-1961 123

This Good Friday Earthquake Wasn't Good!, Anchorage-1964 129

The Molly Hootch Case, Emmonak-1972 135

The Pipeline's Permafrost Puzzle, Prudhoe Bay-1977 140

Libby's Iditarod Victory, Iditarod-1985 146

Oil Spill in Prince William Sound, Valdez-1989 151

Smoke and Fire, Fairbanks-2004 157

Bringing Back the Wood Bison, Shageluk-2015 163

Alaska Facts & Trivia 168

Bibliography 173

Index 183

About the Author 192

Editorial Reviews

Ever since Diane Olthuis move to Alaska in 1977, she has been ice hiking, kayaking, canoeing and researching her adopted state's history. This book recounts 30 episodes in the annals of the Last Frontier, including true stories of Russian exploration, Klondike Gold Rush adventures, World War II Japanese occupation, and the destructive 1964 earthquake.