Celebrate Alaska Day and the Anniversary of Alaska’s Purchase

Owego is celebrating Seward’s Folly on Oct. 18. Join other community members at the Bassett Ah-Wa-Ga Center at 34 1/2 Lake St. in Owego on Oct. 18, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Purchase of Alaska.

Bob Bassett will share stories of Alaskan History, tales of New York’s own William H. Seward (from Auburn), display Alaskan photos, maps, and books as well as original Alaska Native artifacts and arts and crafts.

A special guest will sing his original song for the celebration, “Everyone Has a Friend in Alaska.” All are invited to come and sing along and catch the spirit of the last frontier. 

Special Alaskan cookies and ‘Greatland’ juice will be served. This event is free and open to the public.

Alaska Day is a legal holiday in the U.S. State of Alaska, observed on Oct. 18. It is the anniversary of the formal transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States, which occurred on Friday, Oct. 18, 1867.

On March 30, 1867 the United States purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire for the sum of $7.2 million. It was not until October of that year that the Commissioners arrived in Sitka and the formal transfer was arranged. The formal flag raising took place at Fort Sitka on Oct. 18, 1867. The original ceremony included 250 uniformed U.S. soldiers, who marched to the Governor’s house at “Castle Hill”. Here, the Russian troops lowered the Russian flag and the U.S. flag was raised.