Congratulations, on your big move to Alaska! The history of Alaska started when the Russians set out to explore and colonize the area in the 1800s. New Archangel was the first capital of Alaska; however the Russians never fully colonized the area and were in negotiations to enter statehood with the U.S. as early as 1884. The state became a territory in 1912 was purchased by the U.S in 1959 from Russia for $7.2 million (or two cents per acre). When moving to Alaska, you will discover an area with abundant natural resources where you will instantly discover beautiful landscapes and a diverse climate.

Capital City: The state capital of Alaska is Juneau.

Population: There are 626,932 residents who live in Alaska.

Local Activities: It is often said that Alaska is too big to experience in one lifetime. But, that doesn't mean you can't try. You can enjoy fishing for salmon, landing on a glacier, whale watching, bear viewing, kayaking, dog sledding, gold panning, hiking and much more. In addition to the states amazing landscapes and natural wonders, Alaska also offers dozens of museums free to the public.

Economy: The fishing and seafood industries are the state's largest private employers. Most of the salmon, crab, halibut and herring come from Alaska. Alaska also has vast energy resources such as oil and gas reserves. There are also many agricultural products that are produced in Alaska such as dairy, nursery stock, livestock and vegetables.

State Bird: The willow ptarmigan is the state bird of Alaska.

State Tree: The sitka spruce is the state tree.

State Gem: The state gem of Alaska is jade.

State Song: Marie Drake wrote the state song of Alaska called "Alaska's Flag."