History of Anchorage, Alaska
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This is the main article of a series that covers the History of Anchorage, Alaska, USA.
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[edit] The 19th century
Russia was well established in the 1800s. In 1867, U.S. Secretary of state William H. Seward brokered a deal to purchase Alaska from debt-ridden Russia for $7.2 million, about two cents an acre. Alaska's value was not appreciated by the American masses at that time, calling it "Seward's folly", "Seward's icebox" and "Walrussia". By 1888, gold was discovered along Turnagain Arm.
[edit] The 20th century
[edit] The birth of Anchorage: 1900 - 1929
In 1912, Alaska becomes a United States Territory. Anchorage was carefully laid out by city planners in 1914, originally as a railroad construction port for the Alaska Railroad, and on July 9, 1915, the first sales of town lots were held. In 1915, President Woodrow Wilson authorized funds for the construction of the Alaska Railroad and that same year the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce was formed. Ship Creek Landing in Anchorage was selected as the headquarters of this effort. Soon a "Tent City" sprang up at the mouth of Ship Creek and the population quickly swelled to more than 2,000. Would-be entrepreneurs flocked to this bustling frontier town, and clothing store, "The Anchorage," was actually an old dry-docked steamship name "Berth." Although the area had been known by various names, the U.S. Post Office Department formalized the use of the name "Anchorage," and despite some protests the name stuck. In 1920, the United States government relinquished its direct control over the city, and elections were held. Anchorage was incorporated on November 23, 1920. In 1923, William Mulcahy established the Anchorage Baseball League. Mulcahy was a baseball fan who was working as the Alaska Railroad station auditor assistant and established the baseball league in his spare time. Later in life, Mulcahy introduced Little League baseball and established the city's YMCA. The Mulcahy Park stadium and ball field were named in his honor for his contributions to early Anchorage.
[edit] Anchorage early growth and World War II: 1930 - 1964
The 1930s was a time that Anchorage rebounded from a loss of population and industry it had suffered during World War I. Air transportation became increasingly important to Anchorage. In 1930, the original "Park Strip" landing field was replaced by a new facility, Merrill Field, which had a beacon and a landing tower and in a few short years, it became one of the busiest centers of civilian aircraft activity in the United States. In 1937, Providence Alaska Medical Center opens its doors.
The arrival of troops in 1940 marked a decade of growth based on military expansion for Anchorage. Growth began in the 1940s, with the construction of Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson, which made Anchorage a major defense center. In 1940, a largest seaplane base and, it is still fully operational today. By the outbreak of World War II the threat of Japanese invasion prompted continued heavy milltary investment in the Anchorage area after World War II. By 1946, Anchorage was known as the "Air Cross Roads of the World," with stops by air carriers from the orient to the continental United States. In 1947, the parking meter was introduced, and in 1949, the first traffic lights were installed on Fourth Avenue. Between 1939 and 1950, Anchorage's population doubled from 4,229 to 30,060, and so did the cost of living. Anchorage also experienced a unfortunate rise in crime during this tumultuous growth period, a problem the city would fight for decades.
The decade of the 1950s was also eventful. In 1951, Mail delivery began, as did the opening of the Seward Highway. On December 10, 1951, Anchorage establishes itself as the "Air Crossroads of the World" when Anchorage International Airport opens with transpolar airline traffic flying batween Europe and Asia. In 1953, health care expaned with the opening of the Alaska Native Medical Center, and three volcanoes erupted, including Mount Spurr, which dumped several inches of ash on the Anchorage area. KTVA, the city's first television station, began broadcasting in 1953. In 1954, Alyeska Resort was established. In 1957, oil was discovered on the Kenai Peninsula. On January 3, 1959, Alaska joined the union as the 49th state.
The decade of the 1960s began on a bright note for Anchorage after Alaska's attaining statehood. After Alaska became a state, Anchorage faced a severe housing shortage, which was solved partially by suburban expansion. In January 1964, Anchorage became a City and Borough.
[edit] The "Good Friday Earthquake"
On March 27, 1964, Anchorage was hit by the Good Friday Earthquake, which registered 9.2 moment magnitude on the richter scale and caused tremendous destruction. This earthquake was the largest ever recorded in North America and United States history and, Anchorage lay only 75 miles (120 km) from the epicenter. It killed 131 people across South Central Alaska and damage was estimated at over $300 million (1964 dollars). Anchorage's remarkable recovery from this disaster dominated life in the late 1960s. The continued threat of earthquakes has prompted a limit on the height of buildings in the city; the tallest buildings are 21 stories high.
[edit] Regrowth of Anchorage and the oil discovery: 1965 - 1999
In 1968, Kincaid Park was crested in South Anchorage from a former Nike missile site. That same year, oil was discovered in Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Slope and, in 1969, oil lease sale brings billions of dollars to the state.
The decade of the 1970s was an important time of growth for the Anchorage economy. The growth of Anchorage International Airport would make Anchorage's unique geographical location between the two northern continents earned the sobriquet "Air Crossroads of the World." On March 3, 1973, the first 1049-mile-long (1690 km) Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race starts from downtown Anchorage with 34 mushers. Twenty-two mushers finished the race with the last one arriving in Nome one-month after he left the starting line. In recent years, winners have finished the race in less than 10-days. In 1974, construction begain on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. The oil discovery and pipeline construction fueled a modern-day boon when oil and construction companies set up headquarters in Anchorage. The pipeline was completed in 1977 at a cost of more than $8 billion. In 1975, the city and borough consolidated forming a unified government. Also included in this unification were Eagle River, Eklutna, Girdwood, Glen Alps, and several other communities. The unified area became officially known as the Municipality of Anchorage. By 1980, the population of Anchorage had increased to 174,431.
The decade of the 1980s was a time of growth, thanks to a flood of North Slope oil revenue into the state treasury. Capital projects and an aggressive beautification program, combined with far-sighted community planning, greatly increased infrastructure and quality of life. These included a new library, civic center, sports arena and performing arts center. The 1980s was also a time when Alaska's up-and-down economy hit home. The price of oil dropped dramatically and recession hit Anchorage. In 1984, Hilltop Ski Area was established, which along with the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood and Alpenglow at Arctic Valley gave residents three fully operational skiing areas, Tourism and recreational activities. In 1986, Kincaid Outdoor Center opens. In 1989, Mount Redoubt erupted, curtailing aviation in the Anchorage area for a short peroid of time.
The decade of the 1990s was a time when Anchorage saw gold. In 1996, the Arctic Winter Games were held in Chugiak/Eagle River and, in 1999, the Alaska Native Heritage Center opens.
[edit] The 21st century
On July 8, 2000, the airport was renamed "Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport" in honor of Alaska's longest-serving United States Senator Ted Stevens.
[edit] Anchorage Today
The city today has an attractive skyline nonetheless, particularly with the Chugach Mountains, Cook Inlet, or the oft-visible Mount McKinley (also known as Denali) as a backdrop. From Government Hill, one can have the best view of Mount McKinley. Though space is limited in the "Anchorage bowl," as locals call the peninsula on which the city is located, many parks, greenbelts, and other undeveloped areas can be found within the city itself, making it particularly attractive to nature lovers (to say nothing of the attractions available just a short distance outside the city). Over the past thirty years, however, many of these undeveloped areas have filled in with houses, strip malls, and other development. Nonetheless, there is an enormous amount of land under the Anchorage Municipal control: some 1,955 square miles (5063 km²) about the size of Delaware. The vast majority of this land is located within the Chugach Mountains to the east of the city, which also comprises Chugach State Park.
