Thursday, January 8, 2009

Alaska at 50!

It's official. Alaska is now a 50 year old state. Welcome to middle age! Except Alaska is aging pretty darn well. The air is still clean, the tourists still come, the wildlife still hang out, and it's still a great place to get away from it all.

Alaska's Statehood celebration has been a year long event leading up to the official event held on Saturday, January 3, 2009 (Anchorage Daily News article). Alaska Stock has been pleased to contribute to the celebration by providing the photo for the official United States Postal Service stamp honoring Alaska's 50 years. Our own Jeff Schultz provided a great shot of DeeDee Jonrowe mushing in the Iditarod through Rainy Pass (see blog entry on the official stamp).
Other events included a delegate procession and lighting of the official 50th Anniversary Cauldron, public celebration of the Alaska Statehood at Anchorage's new Dena'ina convention center, the Egan Center and the Alaska Center for Performing Arts. Free music, entertainment, kids activities and exhibits. Anchorage Museum celebrated with "Life in Alaska Leading to Statehood" exhibit. Finally, the weekend was topped off with the 50th Anniversary Gala at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center which included the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, the Anchorage Concert Chorus, Alaska Native dancers, opera singers and Sitka's New Archangel Dancers. Outgoing Mayor Mark Begich, Gov. Sarah Palin and U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski also appeared.

Celebrate Alaska's 50th Anniversary with us by browsing some of our favorite historical photos from Alaska's history at AlaskaStock.com: Statehood