Iñupiaq men in qayaqs, Noatak, Alaska, circa 1929. Edward S. Curtis Collection, Library of Congress Digital Collections.
Crossing the Chilkoot Pass, circa 1898. Courtesy Candy Waugaman and Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.
The Gold Rush boomtown of Nome on the Seward Peninsula, 1900. Courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library.
Alaskans are invited to contribute a brief essay (150 words or less) to “150 Reasons We Love Alaska,” a publication to be distributed in early 2017 during Alaska’s sesquicentennial year.
Alaska Dispatch News in Anchorage will publish and distribute a booklet that will include all the contributions. Each contribution may be edited and then published with the author’s permission. Also, if a photo and caption tells the story, send that.
Your thoughts about Alaska music, art, books, science, food, relationships, adventures are welcomed; whatever describes who we are as Alaskans and what we want to be.
This project is modeled on the cover story of Time Magazine in July — “240 Reasons to Celebrate America.” http://time.com/topic/reasons-to-celebrate-america/
This project is being coordinated by the office of Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallot, and they are not just soliciting affirmations, but also overlooked history, the things we as a state can improve in the future, or humorous anecdotes about failure — all are a welcome. You may write about your occupation or specialty, but please don’t limit yourself. For example, in the Time Magazine issue the great jazz musician Wynton Marsalis celebrated Route 66, and many others gave shout-outs to their favorite regional foods or restaurants.
All points of view will all be honored – whatever your heritage or background might be – the more diverse the better. This event was a turning point for Alaska Native, Russian and American cultures.
The 150-word essay should be submitted no later than January 30th, 2017 to gov.alaska150@alaska.gov.
If you have questions, you want to submit an essay, or recommend that someone specific be included, please reach out.
