This Month in Yukon & Alaska History
July-August
- July (day unknown)
- - in 1786, while charting Lituya Bay, 2 small boats are swamped by rip tides, and 21 French sailors drown.
- - in 1968, the oil riches of Alaska's North Slope, first reported almost 100 years ago, were
confirmed by a drilling program at Prudhoe Bay. The following year, a total of $990,220,590 was bid in a one-day lease
sale of those properties.
- July 2
- - in 1882, George Krause becomes the first white man allowed to cross the Chilkat Pass to the interior.
- July 3
- - in 1913, the first airplane in Alaska made a demonstration flight at Fairbanks, piloted by James V. Lilly.
- July 8
- - in 1799, the Russian American Company is formed by Royal Charter; they were given a 20-year monopoly on
trading on the coast from 55 degrees north.
- July 10
- - in 1919, Louis Beauvette staked the first silver claim at Keno Hill, in the central Yukon; by 1930 this
district was producing 14% of all the silver mined in Canada.
- July 14
- - in 1897, the Excelsior reaches San Francisco with the first large shipment of Klondike gold.
- July 15
- - in 1923, the Alaska Railroad was completed, following 8 years of construction.
- July 16
- - in 1741, Vitus Bering, on St. Elias Day, sights the Alaskan mainland. In honour of the saint, the most prominent
peak was named; this was the first point on the northwest coast named by Europeans.
- July 17
- - in 1897, the Portland reached Seattle with a large shipment of Klondike, turning the excitement caused by
the Excelsior's arrival at San Francisco into an all-out gold rush.
- July 22
- - in 1902, Felice Pedroni ("Felix Pedro") discovered gold in the Tanana Hills, causing a stampede
which resulted in the founding of Fairbanks.
- July 23
- - in 1867, Alaska's first post office is authorized, to be opened at Sitka.
- July 27
- - in 1868, the Customs Act is amended to include Alaska.
- July 29
- - in 1900, the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad was completed, with the Golden Spike driven at Carcross, Yukon.
- August (day not known)
- - in 1876, twelve whaling ships are trapped by ice near Point Barrow; 50 men die attempting to reach safety.
- August 17
- - in 1896, a party consisting of George Carmack, his wife Kate, Skookum Jim, Tagish Charlie and Patsy Henderson
stake placer gold claims on Rabbit Creek, and rename the creek Bonanza Creek.
- August 21
- - in 1732, a Russian expedition under surveyor Mikhail Gvozdev sights the Alaska mainland at Cape Prince of Wales.
- - in 1852, Fort Selkirk is destroyed by a group of Tlingits who objected to the Hudson's Bay Company trying to break the
Tlingit monopoly on trade with the interior tribes.
- August 24
- - in 1912, the Alaska Territorial Act was passed by Congress.
- August 25
- - in 1778, Captain James Cook turned back south, having reached Lat. 71 North, Long. 197 West.
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