It all started 142 years ago on October 18, 1867. Alaska was bought by the United States from Russia in the spring of 1867, but the official and formal transfer was made on the 18th of October.

Alaska Day has always been and will continue to be a big deal in Sitka, for it was there that the first Alaska Day was celebrated in 1954. Every year there is a weeklong celebration from the 9th to the 18th of October with different activities such as the pie eating contest, beard judging, army band, and so much more. There is a reenactment every year at Castle Hill of the first American flag rising of so long ago. I do not think they do everything that happened at the actual transfer, but you never know.

“A dual cannon salute was fired for each flag. The Russian flag stuck fast in the lanyards during its lowering. Several soldiers were unsuccessful in their attempts to climb the flagpole and free the flag. A sling was rigged and a Russian soldier raised to the flag, but he dropped it after freeing it. Gasps were heard as the flag dropped and was blown onto the Russian soldiers' bayonets. The ceremony continued with the quick raising of the American flag. The Commissioners exchanged a few words and Alaska's 586,412 square miles belonged to the United States.” – Historical Tidbit (http://alaskadayfestival.org/transfer.html)

by Angel Alvarez - 12th Grade