Fairbanks: A Timeline

Fairbanks:  A Timeline

Aerial View of Ladd Army Airfield, 1943

1938-1942:  Establishment of Ladd Army Airfield
In 1938, the United States military began purchasing land southeast of Fairbanks.  During the next few years, Ladd Army Airfield was built to defend Alaska against enemy attacks.

lend-a-lease airplane

1942-1945: Military Lend-Lease Program
During WW II, the United States helped supply aircraft to the eastern front by transporting aircraft from the lower 48 to Ladd Army Airfield, near Fairbanks, where they were outfitted for the weather and battle, and then flown by Soviet pilots across Alaska and Siberia to the the eastern front.

Alaska Constitutional Convention

1955-1956: Constitutional Convention
In an effort to further the cause of statehood, a constitutional convention was held at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus during the the winter of 1955-1956.  The Alaskan constitution was approved by voters in February of 1956.  

President Eisenhower signing the Alaska Statehood Act

1959:  Alaska Achieves Statehood
In 1958 Congress passed the Alaska Statehood Bill.  On January 3, 1959,  President Eisenhower signed the making, officially making Alaska the 49th state.

Howard Rock preparing the Tundra Times

1962: Founding of the Tundra Times Newspaper  
The Tundra Times Newspaper was founded by Howard Rock, an Alaska Native from Point Hope.  This newspaper, which was based out of Fairbanks, was written by Alaska Natives and covered topics and issues that were significant in the lives of Alaska Natives.

Article Announcing the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act

1971:  Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
This was the largest Native claims settlement ever reached between the U.S. government and the Native Americans.  This settlement awarded Alaska Natives 43.7 million acres of land, $962.5 million dollars as compensation for land given up and the creation of regional and village corporations to help distribute and manage the land and money.



Three Cause-Effect Statements
1.  Because Ladd Army Airfield was built just south of Fairbanks from 1938-1942, military aircraft were able to be transported to Ladd Army Field, where they were outfitted for weather and battle and then transported over Alaska and Siberia to be used by Soviet soldiers on the eastern front of WWII as part of the Lend-Lease Program from 1942-1945.

2.  Because an Alaskan Constitution was created in Fairbanks during the Constitutional Convention in the winter of 1955-56, politicians were able to strongly advocate for statehood, which was officially granted on January 3, 1959 by President Eisenhower.

3.  Because the Tundra Times Newspaper brought a voice to issues affecting Alaska Natives, they began to unify and strengthen their own Civil Right Movement, which eventually helped to bring about the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971.