Today in History October 18th

1867 — Happy Alaska Day.

Alaska Day, a legal holiday in Alaska observed on October 18, commemorates the formal transfer of the territory from the Russian Empire to the United States on October 18, 1867.

The United States signed the treaty to purchase Alaska on March 30, 1867, for $7.2 million—approximately $132 million in 2024 dollars. The formal transfer, however, did not take place until October, after commissioners arrived in Sitka to arrange the ceremony.

On October 18, 1867, 250 U.S. Army troops marched to the governor’s residence on Castle Hill in Sitka. There, the Russian flag was lowered and the American flag raised, marking the official transfer of authority.

The ceremony’s date is recorded according to the Gregorian calendar used by the United States. Russia still followed the Julian calendar, which was 12 days behind the Gregorian calendar during the 19th century. The corresponding Russian date was October 6, although some accounts give October 7 because of the time difference between Sitka and St. Petersburg.

Alaska’s territorial legislature established Alaska Day as a holiday in 1917. Today, it is a paid holiday for state employees. Sitka hosts an annual celebration featuring parades, historical reenactments, and a commemoration of the flag-raising ceremony. Schools release students early, and many businesses close for the day.

Alaska Day is distinct from Seward’s Day, observed on the last Monday in March. While Alaska Day marks the formal transfer of the territory, Seward’s Day commemorates the signing of the Alaska Purchase treaty in Washington, D.C., on March 30, 1867.