History

First settled by the Ahtna people over a thousand years ago, Wrangell-St. Elias' history is extensive.

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History Details

First settled by the Ahtna people over a thousand years ago, Wrangell-St. Elias' history is extensive. The first Ahtna settlements were along the Copper River, however neighboring tribes such as the Eyak and Tlingit also migrated to the area and occupied hospitable lands. The first European explorers to reach the area were Russian traders and trappers, such as Vitus Bering, in 1741. These travelers built substantial trading posts and began entering native lands in search of valuable materials and minerals, often coming into conflict with the local people. Attacks from both Russians and local tribes continued on for nearly 100 years leading up to the United States' purchase of the Alaskan territory in 1867. With the discovery of gold in the Yukon and Alaskan territories around 1880 many prospectors travelled to the region to set up mining operations in the present day park lands. ALongside the mines, logging was a tremendous industry in the area. Between the mining and logging, these lands were ravaged for their material wealth. The first proposals for protecting this land started in 1908, however it wasn't until the 1940s that substantial studies were put in place for the development of the park. Bureaucratic delays and then World War II delayed the park's protection until 1978 when President Carter signed the bill into law formally creating Wrangell-St. Elias National Monument. Two years later, Carter signed Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act making Wrangell-St. Elias a national park.

Difficulty

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