# anchoragehistory nenana hawaiihistory ketchikanhistory iditarodhistory sitkahistory

1974 "One Chance" print by Bernard T. Katexac (1922-1997). Via Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

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2022-09-23

Circa 1840-1870 Tlingit shaman (Ixt’) amulet, made of antler decorated with abalone shell. Via NY Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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2022-09-20

1981 "Sunshine, Sunshine, Along the Way" watercolor on paper by Byron Birdsall (1937-2016). Depicts the Sunshine Plaza in downtown Anchorage. Via Anchorage Museum.

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2022-09-18

1/2 1916 sheet music for "When the Moon Shines Down in Old Alaska Then I'll Ask'a to Be Mine." Opening lyric: "Northern lights are softly gleaming o'er the silent sea; northern lights so brightly beaming, seem to beckon me."

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2022-09-17

"Bling Cod" by Ray Troll, from his 2010 book, Something Fishy This Way Comes: The Artwork of Ray Troll.

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2022-09-12

Circa 1937 untitled oil painting of Nenana under the northern lights by Carl Saxild (1893-1971). In 1937, Saxild & 11 other artists were selected to participate in the Alaska Art Project, part of the grander WPA Federal Art Project. Via Anchorage Museum.

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2022-09-12

1950 activity book pages for Alaska & Hawaii. Note the image of Alaska is missing both the Aleutians & panhandle. From Planters Peanuts promotional book, Seeing the USA with Mr. Peanut.

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2022-09-10

1970 "Raven Opened the Box of Daylight" woodblock print by Dale DeArmond. Via Anchorage Museum.

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2022-09-05

1/2 1980 Anchorage as envisioned in a 1961 Anchorage metropolitan general plan. Very different transportation design than what we ended up with. Especially note the parkways (Coastal & Foothills Pkws) surrounding the city & a more intact Fairview.

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2022-07-23

1958 "Pictorial Map of Alaska"by Ernest Dudley Chase, full map followed by details. Bonus points for including the western Aleutians in full scale. Via Harvard. Higher quality scan available here: https://t.co/pEYRqRlR2p

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2022-07-23

Still from 1960 Soviet propaganda film "In the Year 2017," named for the centenary of the October Revolution. Film suggested a future where Alaska has been "liberated" from capitalism and connected to Siberia by a combination dam/railroad & nuclear-powered trains.

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2022-03-10

1920 postcard showing a dog team at St. Michael pulling a bit of timber. Back message is funny. The visitor took a "hasty dip" in the Bering Sea. "Once was enough. It's not like Delaware."

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2022-02-07

1928 "White Swans Over the Tundra," oil on canvas by Francis Lee Jaques (1887-1969). Via University of Minnesota Libraries.

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2022-01-19

1937 "Rain, Ketchikan, Alaska," watercolor, oil, & pencil on paper by Tony Mattei (1900-1956). Via Smithsonian American Art Museum.

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2022-01-19

May 20, 1976 Anchorage Times Pay'n'Save skateboard ad. Board prices of $19.43-$29.86 is about $100-$150 now after accounting for inflation. Ad notes that skateboarding pioneers Gary Kocot & Desiree Von Essen were in town performing demonstrations.

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2022-01-16

Dec 9, 1910 San Francisco Call w/ the latest news of the Iditarod gold rush. High prices & shortages. Sugar at 20 cents a pound then is $6 today. $5/hour to rent team of horses, $150 today. $100 for "first class dog" is $2,900 today.

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2022-01-13

1930 "Arctic Shooting" oil on canvas by Daniel Content. Was an illustration for an unknown magazine. Private collection, via Heritage Auctions.

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2022-01-12

Circa 1928 "Alaskan Halibut Fisher" oil on canvas by Sydney Laurence (1865-1940). Via Coeur d'Alene Art Auction.

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2021-12-01

1895 "Sitka, Alaska," oil on canvas by James Everett Stuart (1852-1941).

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2021-11-24

Sep 12, 1940 AK artist Sydney Laurence dies. On Sep 11 he announced that he was about to die. Had a shave/haircut, talked to friends, & sold a painting. Told buyer "Tomorrow will be too late." Admitted himself to hospital, then had fatal stroke next morning.

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2021-09-13