David Reamer
@ANC_Historian
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Historian w/ daily Alaska history posts & weekly Anchorage Daily News column. Coauthor of Black Lives in Alaska (2022) & co-Alaska Historian of the Year (2023).
Anchorage, AK
Joined March 2020
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The origins of many Alaska placenames from an Italian racing yacht to the Earl of Sandwich--yes, that sandwich guy--in my latest
@adndotcom
article.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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Circa 1918-19 ship cat named Tommy, who served aboard the SS Pactolus for the duration of its 1918-19 National Geographic Society expedition to Katmai region.
#alaskahistory
#caturday
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Newly available from University of Washington Press, Black Lives in Alaska written by Ian Hartman of UAA and myself. It has everything from Black whalers to boycotts to police brutality. Check it out!
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1913 unidentified carrier & dog team pose while on a mail run between Seward & Susitna. Because of weight limits, dogs teams usually carried just first class mail unless there was space. Heavier packages often stored up & delivered in spring, by wagon or steamer.
#alaskahistory
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Circa late 1950s, Alaska Airlines crew load a BMW Isetta onto a plane.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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Important breaking history news, the Alaska Historical Society has named Ian Hartman and David Reamer their historians of the year for their work on the 2022 text, Black Lives in Alaska.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
@UWAPress
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2010, a basketball hoop in the snow at Shishmaref. Photo by Brian Adams, via Anchorage Museum.
#alaskahistory
#shishmaref
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"Wild About Anchorage" commercial from the Anchorage Convention and Visitor's Center. Campaign began in May 1981 and ran for many years. Was played more in Anchorage than out. (I'm legally required to post this every year).
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
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Undated candid photograph of musher Susan Butcher, Iditarod champion in 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1990. Via Anchorage Museum.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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1960 Portage Glacier. It's hard to look at old photos of glaciers without a sense of loss.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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Help! Working on article about Fireweed Lane in Anchorage, what do you want to know about the road? What would you like covered? What sticks out to you about Fireweed? What are the most important businesses or landmarks on Fireweed? Below, Fireweed Ln circa 1939.
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June 28, 1972, actor Steve McQueen arrested for reckless driving around 1 AM in Anchorage. He was weaving across lanes & spinning donuts in a 1972 Toronado on 4th Ave. Posted $250 bond & was out of AK by 1:30 PM.
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
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2009 "The Eastern Part of the Brooks Range, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA," by Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado (b. 1944) from his Genesis series.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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Jan 2002 Juneau-Douglas High student Joseph Frederick's "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner shown during Olympic torch relay. Suspended for 10 days, he sued. Lost case before US Supreme Court in 2007. Banner displayed for years at since closed Newseum in DC.
#alaskahistory
#juneauhistory
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From 1988 to 1991, musher John Suter competed in the Iditarod with poodles. Iditarod rules then changed to allow "only dogs suitable for arctic travel."
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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July 29, 1994, Alaska Zoo's Binky the polar bear (1975-95) attacked tourist who jumped guard rails for better photo. Binky kept one of her shoes for days, memorialized in tshirts. Later that year, bit a teenager who also approached too close.
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
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Nov 19, 1918 [Juneau] Alaska Daily Empire "Spanish" influenza advice. "Do not disregard the advice of a specialist just because you do not understand . . . do not neglect your mask . . . do not think you are entitled to special privileges."
#alaskahistory
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A gem of Anchorage history is tucked into the back of the Alaska Zoo giftshop, near the bathrooms & easy to miss. On display is the actual shoe Binky the polar bear (1975-95) ripped off a tourist who, in 1994, jumped the rails for a closer photo.
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
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2008 footage of Andrew Kerosky, the "dancing guy" of Anchorage. From 2006 to 2010, he danced at the corner of 15th and Ingra every Friday. Via Anchorage Daily News.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#anchoragehistory
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Circa early 1920s "Northern Lights, Juneau, Alaska" oil on canvas by Sydney Laurence (1865-1940). Via Bonham's.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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1972 Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in Kotzebue. I'm told it didn't last long but would love to learn more. Via Anchorage Museum.
#alaskahistory
#kotzebue
#kotzebuehistory
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Rosa Parks was born on this day in 1913. She visited Anchorage several times to see her childhood friend, M. Ashley Dickerson, who was Alaska's first Black lawyer. Below, Parks & Dickerson in 1996. More in my 2020 article:
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#RosaParks
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Dec 21, 1917, the sun's low path over Anchorage, as seen looking south from Government Hill. Photo by H.G. Kaiser.
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
#WinterSolstice
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1/10 Horrific history story time. On Sep 17, 1961, 33-year-old soldier Roger Cashin walked out onto the Palmer Slough mudflats south of Wasilla w/ three Army buddies. Cashin walked closer to the water & began to sink, which his friends thought was hilarious.
#alaskahistory
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1981 untitled Alaska landscape, oil on canvas by Bob Ross (1942-1995). The Air Force brought Ross to Alaska in the 1960s, and his first painting experience was at a USO class in Anchorage.
#alaskahistory
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In 1931, actor John Barrymore (L in 1st photo), grandfather of Drew, stole a totem pole from Tlingit village of Tuxecan. Turned it into a fountain. Bought by actor Vincent Price, who put it in his back yard. Returned to tribe in 2015 via Honolulu Museum of Art.
#alaskahistory
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May 15, 1949, the 4th Avenue Theatre in Anchorage. The theater opened in 1947 with a showing of The Jolson Story. If you want a picture of the sign, you might think about heading downtown sooner than later as it will demolished this summer.
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
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Sep 1, 2015, President Barack Obama visits Anchorage's Snow City Cafe. He spent $18.25 on cinnamon rolls and muffins. Photo by
@shelby_lum
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
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1/11 Anchorage history story time. By the early 1980s, Floyd Kaleak (1958-2004), an Inupiaq man w/ a developmental disability, moved to Anchorage. Spent much of his childhood in special homes & part of his adulthood in residential care facilities.
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
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March 1975, unidentified extremely stylish woman in front of Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau. I'm still hoping someone recognizes her. Via UAA Archives.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#mendenhallglacier
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1982 "Anchorage Night" watercolor by Byron Birdsall (1937-2016). Anchorage Mayor Tony Knowles had this painting turned into a print that he gave as gifts to visiting dignitaries.
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
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Late 1918 around Juneau, Harry and Carrie Dott wear masks as required by local ordinance, a response to the 1918-19 influenza pandemic. The Dotts married in Dec 1918.
#alaskahistory
#juneauhistory
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Dec 1984, between 2 to 3 thousand beluga whales were trapped in ice between Chukchi Peninsula & Alaska. Soviet icebreaker Moskva created a channel & played classical music to entice the whales to follow it to open water. Called Operation Beluga.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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1970 "Raven Opened the Box of Daylight" woodblock print by Dale DeArmond. Via Anchorage Museum.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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"Capturing Light" by Coast Salish artist Maynard Johnny Jr. Raven is stealing the sun for humanity. See more of his work here:
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"Wild About Anchorage" commercial from the Anchorage Convention and Visitor's Center. The campaign began in May 1981. It ran for many years & was played more in Anchorage than out. (I'm legally required to post this every year).
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
#alaska
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Alaskans might be interested in all the Jerry Prevo details in this case. For example:
It appears from Jerry Falwell Jr’s complaint against Liberty University that much of its leadership had extra-marital affairs. Really. The moral hypocrisy is stunning if not surprising.
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I ran into someone who only knew me from Twitter today, and they said, "Oh, I thought you were old," which is a pretty good compliment. For those that don't know, I am actually a baby abandoned in an Alaska field who took up history to fill the time. Pictured.
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1990s day suits by Haida fashion designer Dorothy Grant. Via Museum of Vancouver.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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June 28, 1972, actor Steve McQueen arrested for reckless driving around 1 AM in Anchorage. He was weaving across lanes & spinning donuts in a 1972 Toronado on 4th Ave. Posted $250 bond & was out of AK by 1:30 PM.
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
#alaska
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1903 Nowadluk (aka Nora Ootenna) in Nome with her hair unbraided. The Inupiaq woman was a popular subject for area photographers. Killed by the 1918-19 influenza pandemic.
#alaskahistory
#nomehistory
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1989 "City of Anchorage" watercolor by Byron Birdsall, 1937-2016. He wrote "On a clear day Anchorage puts on its own light show. As seen from Earthquake Park in the final rays of the setting sun the city seems to glow with an inner light."
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#anchoragehistory
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On April 1, 1974, Porky Bickar of Sitka faked the eruption of Mount Edgecumble, tricking residents and the Coast Guard. More on the greatest Alaska Fools Day joke in Alaska history in my 2020
@adndotcom
column:
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#sitka
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Painting of the northern lights, undated, by Bob Ross (1942-1995). The Air Force brought Ross to Alaska in the 1960s, and his first painting experience was at a USO class in Anchorage.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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1981 untitled Alaska landscape, oil on canvas by Bob Ross (1942-1995). The Air Force brought Ross to Alaska in the 1960s, and his first painting experience was at a USO class in Anchorage.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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Nov 15, 1918 [Juneau] Alaska Daily Empire. Mask ordinance due to Spanish influenza. $21 fine is $360 today.
"Is not the saving of one human life recompense enough for the few days of discomfort that the wearing of the masks may cause?"
#alaskahistory
#juneauhistory
#spanishflu
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Dec 1984, between 2 to 3 thousand beluga whales were trapped in ice between Chukchi Peninsula & Alaska. Soviet icebreaker Moskva created a channel & played classical music to entice the whales to follow it to open water. Called Operation Beluga.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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Libby Riddle's sled from the 1985 Iditarod, when she became the first woman to win the race. Sled is now at the National Museum of American History.
#alaskahistory
#WomensHistoryMonth
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A teenaged Lisa Murkowski posing inside a segment of the Alaska Pipeline during its 1970s construction. Via Murkowski's Senate website.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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For years, an Anchorage joke said the easiest way for women to get out of marriage was to kill their spouse: aka a Spenard Divorce. There were some deaths, but did Anchorage women get away with murder? Find out at my free Nov 11, 11:30 AM talk at the Bear Tooth!
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March 1975, unidentified woman in front of Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau. Via UAA Archives.
#alaskahistory
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1/2 Circa 1980s Alaska Airlines Anchorage poster, part of a destination series by legendary movie poster artist John Alvin, who created the main posters for Blazing Saddles, E.T., Blade Runner, Batman Returns, and Balto among many others.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#anchoragehistory
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"Juneau" by Eric Dowdle. Most of his work are turned into puzzles, including this piece, which is how some of you might be familiar with his style.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#juneau
#juneauhistory
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1992 "A Harmless Necessary Cat" print by Alaska artist Byron Birdsall (1937-2016).
#alaskahistory
#Caturday
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Late 1950s Alaska, a puppy, seal, and baby in the same playpen. Via Anchorage Museum.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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From 1988 to 1991, musher John Suter competed in the Iditarod with poodles. Iditarod rules then changed to allow "only dogs suitable for arctic travel."
#alaskahistory
#saturdog
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Perhaps the oddest building in Anchorage is this two-bedroom, backyard rental (I think) property that looks like a church, near Valley of the Moon Park, north of Chester Creek. Anyone know anything about it beyond an old Zillow listing?
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#anchoragehistory
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June 1960, tourists at Portage Glacier. They did not know what the future held. This week I'm only posting material from the 1960s.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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Aug 18, 1981 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner ad for art classes taught by Bob Ross "one of Fairbanks' most well-known artists." Ross spent 20 years in Air Force, mostly at Eielson AFB. Retired from Air Force in 1981. Joy of Painting began in 1983.
#alaskahistory
#fairbankshistory
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Cecilia "Ceil" Braund (1940-1987) longtime Anchorage area bartender, notably at Diamond Jim's in Indian. Each breast weighed around 14 pounds & insured by Lloyd's of London. In 1968, rode bicycle from Anchorage to Reno.
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
#alaska
#WomensHistoryMonth
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2009 Eagle Wolf Suit prototype by Tlingit artist Tommy Joseph (b. 1964). From the 2015 book, Native Fashion Now: North American Indian Style.
#alaskahistory
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June 23, 1987 Susan Butcher photo op w/ President Ronald Reagan in Oval Office, AK's senators & representative in tow. She gifts Reagan bootie worn by Granite & "Alaska where men are men & women win the Iditarod" shirt. Via National Archives.
#alaskahistory
#WomensHistoryMonth
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2021 "The Kal'ut Madonna," oil on masonite by Linda Infante-Lyons. "Kal'ut" is Alutiiq for the village of Karluk on Kodiak Island, where Infante-Lyons' mother was born. Via Anchorage Museum.
#alaskahistory
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July 1974, fireweed and a cabin at Willow Lake. Via Anchorage Museum.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#fireweed
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Borders bookstore in Anchorage, at 1100 E. Dimond Blvd., open from 1994 to 2010.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#anchoragehistory
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1986 "Glacier Bay, Alaska," Glacier Bay National Park poster by Charley Harper.
#alaskahistory
#glacierbay
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The most famous snowstorm in Anchorage history is probably the 2002 St. Patrick's Day storm that dropped up to 29 inches of snow in parts of town over March 16 to 17, around two inches of snow per hour for long stretches.
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
#alaska
#akwx
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1981 snowmachine turned into a four wheeler at Barrow (now Utqiaġvik). I can only stare at this bit of genius.
#alaska
#alaskahistory
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2015/16 portrait of Marie Rexford in Kaktovik preparing muktuk for the upcoming Thanksgiving. Photograph by Brian Adams. Via Anchorage Museum.
#alaskahistory
#kaktovik
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Today marks 30 years (July 29, 1994) since Binky the polar bear grabbed a foolish tourist at the Alaska Zoo, broke her leg, & famously kept a shoe. The shoe is displayed at the zoo gift shop. Binky died in 1995 from a parasitic disease.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#anchoragehistory
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1985 "Fairbanks Rooftops" oil on canvas by David Mollett. Via UAF's Museum of the North.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#fairbanks
#fairbankshistory
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The wave that hit Whittier after the March 27, 1964 Good Friday Earthquake was strong enough to drive a 2x6 inch plank through a 10-ply forklift tire. The earthquake occurred sixty years ago today.
#alaskahistory
#whittieralaska
#alaska
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Most famous person born in Valdez is clearly William T. Riker (2335-????) of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame.
#alaskahistory
#valdezhistory
#alaska
#valdez
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1/10 Halloween story time. On September 11, 1940, famed Alaska painter Sydney Laurence woke early, as was his habit. He bathed, dressed, & breakfasted with his wife, Jeanne, in their Anchorage home. Then he told her, “This is my last day on earth.”
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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Willa "Juanita" Ewing (1903-1985) was 1st Black graduate of her Iowa high school & 1st Black woman to graduate from Iowa State. Moved to AK in 1950s to teach at Noatak, then taught for many years in Fairbanks, including at Joy Elementary.
#alaskahistory
#Blackhistorymonth
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Most famous person born in Valdez is clearly William T. Riker (2335-????) of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame.
#alaskahistory
#valdezhistory
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June 27, 1966 the Beatles were forced into a layover in Anchorage on their way to Japan. They spent several hours bored in the Westward Hotel (downtown Hilton now) before taking off early next morning. George Harrison w/ the Polaroid camera. 1/2
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
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2000 killer whale carved door by Israel Shotridge, a private commission installed on Vashon Island, WA.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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June 23, 1987 musher Susan Butcher photo op w/ President Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office, w/ AK's senators & representative in tow. She gifts Reagan a bootie worn by Granite & "Alaska where men are men & women win the Iditarod" shirt. Via National Archives
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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Angered by a ticket, Linny Pacillo became a 90s Anchorage folk hero. With her sister, Susan, she donned a tutu/fairy wings & drove around in pink meter maid truck filling expired parking meters. More about her story here:
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
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1905, "Tyonek, Alaska," oil on canvas by Sydney Laurence (1866-1940). He first visited Alaska around 1903, and this is his oldest known painting of Alaska.
#alaskahistory
#Alaska
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September 1, 2015, President Barack Obama visits Anchorage's Snow City Cafe. He spent $18.25 on cinnamon rolls and muffins.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#anchoragehistory
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Laura Beltz Wright (1909–1996) was one of 23 women to serve in the Alaska Territorial Guard during World War II. She delivered mail & was known as "the best shot in the company." after the war, she designed the renowned Wright Alaskan Parky.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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Herbie Nayokpuk (1929-2006), musher and artist, the Shishmaref Cannonball. Competed in 11 Iditarods including the first one in 1973. Best finish was 2nd in 1980. In 1983, he finished 4th despite open heart surgery only 5 months earlier.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#shishmaref
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Circa 1957-1958 Alaska Governor Mike Stepovich and First Lady Matilda Stepovich get their polio vaccine shots, part of a public health publicity drive.
#alaskahistory
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A pictorial map predicting Anchorage and the Cook Inlet in 2035. By Sharon Schumacher, from the 1983 "Anchorage and the Cook Inlet Basin" issue of Alaska Geographic.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#anchoragehistory
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Did you know the Anchorage Times digitized archive is available for free via the Atwood Foundation? There's issues from 1916 to 1992 when it shut down. There are a few holes--much of 1970--but a priceless resource.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#anchoragehistory
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Young Bella Hammond née Gardiner above Clark's Point on Bristol Bay, one of my favorite Alaska photographs.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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June 27, 1966, a bored Paul McCartney looks out a window at Anchorage's Westward Hotel (downtown Hilton now). Beatles were forced into long layover en route to Japan. Photo by Robert Whitaker.
#alaskahistory
#anchoragehistory
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2009 "The Eastern Part of the Brooks Range, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA," by Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado (b. 1944) from his Genesis series.
#alaskahistory
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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.
#alaskahistory
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March 20, 1985, Libby Riddles in Nome shortly after winning the Iditarod.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
#nomehistory
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Just seen on 27th between Spenard and Arctic. Since the raven seems to prefer Spenard, should we call it the Spenard White Raven?
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July 1983, Nome grocery store. I rarely make it explicit, but a major point for sharing photos like this is to show how people lived. How little or much culture and people have changed.
#alaskahistory
#alaska
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Homer, Alaska is named for Homer Pennock (1840-1912), a conman who ran a gold scheme there in the late 1890s. When Homer incorporated in 1964, residents kept the name despite knowing truth about him. Below is rare photo of Pennock, circa 1898.
#alaskahistory
#homeralaska
#alaska
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