05/17/2026
We are diving into a really fun piece of Alaska history today as we celebrate an important milestone on the calendar! On May 17, 1884, the United States Congress finally passed the very first Organic Act for our incredible region.
Before this date, Alaska had basically been ignored by the federal government since it was purchased from Russia in 1867. The Organic Act finally provided Alaska with a civilian government, a governor, and a federal court system.
This meant we were no longer just a chaotic frontier under the loose control of the military and the treasury department. It was a huge stepping stone on the long and rugged path toward eventually becoming the 49th state!
While driving through our historic towns today, you can still see the lingering effects of these early governmental struggles. Many of our audio tour routes pass by historic pioneer buildings and wild gold rush settlements that date back to this era. We love bringing this colorful history to life through engaging, local storytelling as you cruise down the highway. It is so much more fun to learn about outlaws, pioneer politicians, and wild frontier justice when you are staring right at the places where it all happened!
Turn on the app, travel back in time, and experience the epic history of the Last Frontier firsthand.
