Question 1: This Christmas tree is set atop a barge near the capital city of what US state?
- Maine
- Alaska
- Washington
Correct Answer: Alaska
Fact: Amalga Harbor is about 15 miles north of Juneau, Alaska, and is one of only a handful of coastal capital cities in the US.
Question 2: This photo was taken from nearby Ernest Gruening State Historical Park. Who was Gruening?
- The founder of Juneau
- One of Alaska’s first US senators
- Alaska’s richest resident
Correct Answer: One of Alaska’s first US senators
Fact: The park is named for one of Alaska's two inaugural senators. Gruening also served as governor of the Alaska Territory, before it became a state.
Question 3: What year did Alaska become a US state?
- 1912
- 1938
- 1959
Correct Answer: 1959
Fact: Alaska became our 49th state on January 3, 1959. It was granted territorial status in 1912, 45 years after its $7.2 million. purchase by then Secretary of State William Seward. Widely considered a huge mistake at the time, the purchase was known as 'Seward's Folly' or 'Seward's Icebox.'