Welcome to

"An Alaskan Moment"

A "moment" is a measure of time... 90 seconds.

"An Alaskan Moment" lasts a little longer.

Sometimes twice as much.

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This week in Alaska History:

May 24, 1894 - St. Michael's Cathedral in Sitka was threatened by a fire that destroyed a nearby building. Valuables were removed from the cathedral and returned the following day. In 1966 the cathedral was destroyed by fire but was subsequently rebuilt.

May 25, 1799 - Alexander Baranov arrived on Sitka Sound from Kodiak to establish a post for the newly organized Russian American Company of which he was chief manager.

May 26, 1900 - Congress passed a bill creating the Washington-Alaska Cable System. Over the cable Alaska would be connected to the worldwide telegraphic system.

May 27, 1905 - The steamer White Seal was launched at Fairbanks, the first registered vessel to be built on the Tanana River.

May 28, 1867 - The U.S. Senate ratified the treaty providing for the purchase of Alaska from Russia. Ninety-one years later, on May 28, 1958, the House of Representatives passed the Alaska statehood bill by a vote of 208-166.

May 29, 1943 - The U.S. Army activated the Shemya post with 236 officers, seven of them women, and 4,565 enlisted men.

May 30, 1778 - The vessels of Captain James Cook discovered Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet.

<a href="https://alaskahistoricalsociety.org/discover-alaska/this-month-in-alaska-history/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">This week in Alaska History compiled by Robert N. DeArmond of Sitka<br />
Courtesy of the Alaska Historical Society</a>

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"An Alaskan Moment" is produced at Aleutian Peninsula Broadcasting in Sand Point

<a href="https://apradio.org">apradio.org</a>

Music by Paul Holmberg

With help from NAMES OF FOLKS WHO READ HISTORY & POETRY.

And especially you, the supporters of Public Radio.

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Now for your poem.

Today's poem is found in the book "Hunger & Dreams: The Alaskan Women's 
Anthology", edited by Patricia Monaghan. 

Published by Fireweed Press in Fairbanks, 1983.

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Today's poem is found in the book "A Good Crew: An Alaskan Men's
Anthology", edited by Roland Wilbert and Larry Laraby. 

Published by Fireweed Press in Fairbanks, 1986.

BEGIN POEM