August 14, 1784

On this day in history in 1784 the Russians settled Alaska.

Kodiak Island

A map showing Kodiak Island among the Alaska Peninsula

Europeans first discovered Alaska in 1741 when a Russian expedition saw Alaska's mainland. Russian hunters soon came to Alaska on incursions. These were dangerous to the Indigenous Aleut population as the hunters brought foreign diseases that killed many.

Situated in the Gulf of Alaska, Kodiak Island is part of an archipelago that is comprised of sixteen major islands along the Alaska Peninsula. It was on Kodiak that Grigory Shelikhov, a Russian fur trader, founded the first permanent Russian settlement in Alaska known as Three Saints Bay. Shelikhov lived there for two years along with his wife and 200 other men. From there they explored the mainland and established other fur-trade centers. After Shelikhov returned to Russia Aleksandr Baranov was dispatched to manage Alaska.

Selling Alaska

Baranov established the Russian American Company and was granted a monopoly in Alaska. He also extended the Russian fur trade down the coast of North America. Overtime Russia became less interested in its Alaskan territory. After the Crimean War in the 1850s a bankrupt Russia hoped to sell their territory for funds.

The Russian government approached the United States about selling their territory. They began with James Buchanan's administration but dealings were put on hold when the American Civil War broke out. After the war Secretary of State William Seward was eager to acquire the landmass. The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, just two cents per acre. It was a slow influx of Americans from the continental US to Alaska until gold was discovered in 188 and brough a rapid increase of settlers north. Alaska officially became a state in 1959.