Artifact of the Month: September 2017

Celebrating the purchase of Alaska

Secretary of State William H. Seward negotiated the transfer of Alaska to the United States from Russia for a mere $7.2 million in 1867. A century later, Alaska had gained statehood, and its people celebrated the purchase anniversary with parades, tourism efforts, souvenirs, and numerous building projects, including Ketchikan's own Centennial Building, home of the Tongass Historical Museum.

This month's featured artifact is a silver medallion donated by the Alaska Centennial Committee to the Tongass Historical Society in 1967. A bill authorizing the U.S. Mint to strike Alaska centennial medallions passed in the Alaska legislature and was signed into law the prior year, 1966, by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The medallion pays tribute to the early pioneers who came to find gold and riches in Alaska, but stayed to found a new state. Struck in limited quantities of silver or bronze at the U.S. Mint, the 65mm piece depicts a portrait of William H. Seward with the Alaska Centennial seal on the reverse side.

The Alaska Centennial seal, designed by Major Robert D. Vodica, is full of symbolism from Alaska's first hundred years. As a starting point, the totem pole represents Alaska Natives as the first people to occupy the land, as well as their rich cultural traditions. The Russian Church on the totem signifies early Russian influence; the Eagle symbolizes the purchase of Alaska and territorial rule; the miner panning for gold represents the drama of the Klondike Gold Rush that inspired exploration and settlement; the train denotes industry and the 49th star harkens to Alaska achieving statehood as well as the star of law and order. The seal also features the Alaska state flag flying above Denali, the iconic mountain of the Alaska Range.

Initially, each community around the state received a limited number of matched sets of silver and bronze medallions to sell for $35 each. The Ketchikan Centennial Committee, led by Chairman Gordon Zerbetz, hosted the sale of seven sets at a public auction in 1966. Each person attending the auction received a number and if their number was drawn, they were eligible to purchase a set. Of the 42 people to register, the first sets were sold to Janette Edwards, Aileen Jones, Margaret Gregorchuk, Paul Mattle, Betty DeRock, George Mariner, and Owen Hunt. A second sealed-bid auction took place in the fall of 1966.

On Monday September 4, 2017, we invite you to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Centennial Building from 1-2 p.m. October 18, 2017 marks the 150th anniversary of the transfer. For history of the transfer and more information about events happening around the state, visit the following website: https://alaska150.com

Ketchikan Museums: Tongass Historical Society Collection, THS 67.10.4.1