Although Alaska did not become a state until 1959, the land holds a rich history that began with behemoth dinosaurs and woolly mammoths dominating the landscape. Archaeologists say humans moved to Alaska over the Bering Strait over 20,000 years ago, with the first Europeans settling from Scandinavia and Russia in 1748.

The early years brought Russian fur traders who almost brought the Alaskan mammals to extinction, and the Spanish explorers who favored the southeast’s Prince of Wales Island. Russian missionaries and Americans cut down timber from the forests for a profit.

In 1896, gold was discovered in the Yukon, which began a long fascination with the territory, attracting settlers worldwide. All the while, 15% of the population was made up of Alaskan native tribes. This population set up villages in Ketchikan, Anchorage and Kotzebue, subsisting off hunting, whaling and fishing. Today, visitors can see hundreds of preserved villages where Alaskans still hang onto cultural traditions and sell colorful, spiritual art to curious newcomers.

A good starting point to learn more about Alaska’s indigenous people is to visit The Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage Alaska. This world renowned cultural center and museum contains information, educational materials, video presentations, artwork and displays documenting the following Alaskan native peoples: the Athabascan, the Aleut & Alutiiq, the Yup’ik & Cup’ik, the Inupiaq & St. Lawrence Island Yupik, the Eyak, the Tlingit, the Haida and the Tsimshian.

Here you can view beaded artwork from the Athabascan people, learn about the spirituality of the Yup’ik and Cup’ik, who believed in good shamans for healing and bad shamans who placed curses on people, or gaze upon the festive Chilkat & raven’s tail robe regalia worn at the Eyak potlach festivals.

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