NATIONAL ALASKA DAY - June 28 - National Day Calendar

(Last Updated On: November 8, 2022)

In 2017, National Day Calendar® began celebrating each state in the order they entered the union, starting the week of Independence Day and ending with Hawaii. We highlight a small part of each states’ history, foods and the people who make up the state. Many states have their own state celebrations, and National Day Calendar’s observances in no way replace them. There’s so much more to explore, we can’t help but celebrate our beautiful country even more!

NATIONAL ALASKA DAY | JUNE 28

On June 28th, National Alaska Day recognizes the largest state to join the union and the Nation’s Last Frontier.

#NationalAlaskaDay

Not only is Alaska the largest state, but it is also home to the highest mountain peaks in the country, including Mt. Denali. In The Last Frontier, it’s possible to test the theories associated with the Bering Land Bridge. Check out the remote and intriguing location of North America’s history.

Populated by Inuit, Yupik, Tlingit, and others long before Russian and European explorers found their way to the Arctic land, Alaska supported the indigenous people with sufficient whale fat, beaver, and fish.

The Land of the Midnight Sun led to the next great gold rush. In the Yukon, many would venture into the rugged North expecting to find riches in the Klondike. Those who did, would find it difficult to get it back out again…alive.

The Iditarod takes place in Alaska and runs 1,150 miles from Anchorage to Nome. Honoring the traditions of the sled dog culture and the Iditarod Trail, the annual event draws thousands of spectators and online viewers. In 1925, Leonhard Seppala along with several other mushers delivered much-needed anti-diphtheria serum to Nome along the same route.

On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state.

The immense Denali National Park and Preserve is home to glaciers, fossil records, and a study in geology. All along the Alaska Range, the pristine wilderness provides hikers the most well-marked trails outstanding views, and peaceful vistas.

Venture into Glacier Bay for glimpses of an icy blue you’ll see nowhere else on Earth. Listen for the rugged mountains of ice collapsing into the bay or seek the humpback whales breaking the surface. The sights and sounds of the bay are as abundant as the history, too.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL ALASKA DAY

Join National Day Calendar as we celebrate National Alaska Day. Discover the wildest places and peaceful spaces. Go where the land meets the sky. Find adventure in The Land of the Midnight Sun and use #NationalAlaskaDay to share on social media.

A civil rights leader for the Tlingit people, Elizabeth Jean Wanamaker Peratrovich, strived to bring to light the discrimination occurring in her state. Her efforts brought forth equal rights legislation in Alaska before the Civil Rights movement had picked up steam in the rest of the United States.

Marie Smith Jones was the last native speaker of the Eyak language. She spoke the language fluently, and it was possible, through her, to create an Eyak dictionary with the help of the University of Alaska.

The cartoonist of the syndicated Big George character, Virgil Partch created absurd situations with hilarious outcomes.

Best known for his role in Pee-wee’s Playhouse, John Paragon has also taken on the co-writing and advised on Disney park attractions.

Velma Wallis published two works of fiction about survival in ancient Alaska. Her memoir, Raising Ourselves, tells her coming of age story in the Alaskan Yukon.

A right-handed pitcher, Curt Schilling, played for several Major League Baseball teams in his 20 seasons. The three-time World Series Champion played most notably for the Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Boston Red Sox.

Mario Chalmers is a point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies. He was drafted as the 34th pick overall in the 2008 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.