Jan. 3, 1959 | Alaska Becomes a State

By The Learning Network
Bill & Vicki Tracey Alaska became a state on Jan. 3, 1959. Juneau, its capital, is shown in this 2007 photograph.
Historic Headlines

Learn about key events in history and their connections to today.

On Jan. 3, 1959, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Alaska to the Union as the 49th state. The New York Times noted that the signing included the unveiling of the new 49-star American flag.

The land that became Alaska came into U.S. possession in 1867, when William Seward, secretary of state under President Andrew Johnson, negotiated a deal to buy the 586,000-square-mile area from Russia for $7.2 million, less than 2 cents per acre. Seward’s decision was ridiculed in the American press, who saw no potential in the vast, inhospitable and sparsely populated area.

For decades after its purchase, Alaska was derided as “Seward’s folly” or “Seward’s icebox.” This opinion changed in 1896 with the discovery of gold in the neighboring Yukon Territory, which spurred tens of thousands of people to head to Alaska in search of gold. The gold rush also brought about a boom in mining, fishing and trapping.

Though the first statehood bill had been presented to Congress in 1916, there was little desire in either Alaska or Washington for Alaskan statehood until after World War II. During the war, the U.S. established multiple military bases to resist Japan’s attacks on Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and prevent a potential invasion of the mainland. The military activity, along with the completion of a major highway from Montana, led to a large population growth.

In 1946, Alaskans voted in favor of statehood in a referendum and Alaskan delegates began to lobby Congress for statehood. After years of debate, Congress voted in June 1958 to admit Alaska.

Eight months after Alaska’s admission, on Aug. 21, 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state. The 49-star remained in place until the following July 4, when it was replaced by the now-familiar 50-star flag.

Connect to Today:

Today the center of Alaska’s economy is its oil and gas industry. Oil drilling has often created controversy in Alaska, particularly after the Exxon Valdez oil tanker struck a reef in Prince William Sound in 1988, causing 11 million gallons of oil to spill into the water. Drilling, both offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, also became one of the main subjects of debate in the 2008 presidential election. More recently the 2010 British Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico renewed public concern for offshore drilling in Alaska.

Supporters of increased drilling argue that it provides jobs and will ultimately reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Opponents say that the potential damage to the environment is too great to justify drilling. In November 2011, President Obama proposed a five-year plan to drill offshore in new areas of the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska.

What are your thoughts on offshore drilling and exploration? In your opinion, do the potential benefits outweigh the risks of environmental catastrophe? Why or why not?

Learn more about what happened in history on January 3»

Learn more about Historic Headlines and our collaboration with findingDulcinea »

Correction: January 4, 2012
This post originally stated that Hawaii became the 50th state on Aug. 21, 1957. The correct date is Aug. 21, 1959.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

nick January 3, 2012 · 11:19 am

kool alaska becomes a state and becomes are bigest taritory and are coldest it was ritch in gold aniamels and trees for lumber its a butifull place and wilderness that created a new colutuer that only revamped the american dreem. later on the pruto bay oil felds and thay created a pipelins and its a big state nerrly twice the sise of texas. it made 50 which is well nown today.

Sam W January 3, 2012 · 12:56 pm

The popularly held-belief that many people at the time derided the Alaska Purchase as “Seward’s Folly” is largely incorrect. Opposition to the Alaska Purchase was generally limited to post-Civil War Republicans who opposed then-President Andrew Johnson. Much like today, these Republicans took every opportunity to deride the Democrat’s policies. Republican-leaning newspapers claimed it was “Seward’s Folly” to purchase Alaska, although their complaints were generally about Johnson’s policies rather than the actual merits of the Alaska Purchase itself. Non-Republican newspapers were generally supportive of the Alaska Purchase. So it is incorrect to characterize the nation’s popular sentiment at the time as opposed to the purchase.

AGR January 3, 2012 · 6:06 pm

Eight months after Alaska’s admission, on Aug. 21, 1957

You mean: 1959.

Thank you! I’ve just corrected this. –Katherine

Ed Darrell January 3, 2012 · 11:04 pm

At the moment, the article states Hawaii was admitted to the union on August 21, 1957.

Is that a typo? Shouldn’t it be 1959?

Thank you, Ed. Yes, it was a typo, and I’ve just corrected it. –Katherine

Les rushing August 3, 2015 · 7:53 pm

I was in Alaska when they burned 49 tons of wood to celebrate becoming the 49 state big fire was great.