Flick 2014 Journey: Anchorage I

Captain James Cook, Royal Navy, set sail from Plymouth Harbor, England the first week of July, 1776 on a discovery and scientific survey mission. Another mission to find a northwest passage. June 1, 1778 his 2 ships, Resolution and Discovery, entered the waters surrounding Alaska. The 150 mile inlet from the sea to Anchorage is named Cook Inlet in his honor. His conclusion was there was no northwest passage via water!

Statute of Cook in Resolution Park, downtown Anchorage.

Looking into the outlet from Resolution Park

Replica of early Alaskan log / sod roof home. Many of the early migrants were from Minnesota. This building serves as a visitor center downtown.

Alaska Territorial Guard - During WWII under leadership of Major "Muktuk" Marston over 6000 volunteers from 7 Native ethnic & European Americans watched the Alaska northern shores for enemy movement.

January 3, 1959 President Eisenhower signed into bill the law admitting Alaska as the 49th state.

The Good Friday Earthquake, magnitude 9.2, hit Anchorage March 27, 1964. 115 people were killed and it caused $311 million in damage. Shaking lasted nearly five minutes; it was the second largest earthquake in the recorded history of the world. Anchorage, Valdez, & Seward all had heavy damage. 50 - 100 earthquakes occur each day in the state and 1 per year has a magnitude between 7 & 8. So far we have only felt one, a 4.6 close to Denali NP.

Two major faults run through Alaska, Pacific and North American Plates. The North American Plate lifted over 20 feet.

4th Avenue downtown Anchorage after the quake!!

This earthquake had effects for 100's of miles.

Good way to spend a rainy day in Anchorage! This is an excellent museum and of course trying to do it one day becomes overwhelming!

Pacific Ocean debris is scattered and collects on Alaska shores via the North Pacific Gyre. They had an entire floor of the museum dedicated to this topic, yet Alaska does not have a good recycling program. Not completely walking the talk!

Nesbett Courthouse downtown Anchorage

Interesting Street sign

This is for you Erik!

Downtown Square Park

Surely didn't think of great gardens when planning this trip. Growing season maybe short but plants love the long days of lights. Alaska has award winning sized vegetables.