These fascinating historic photos give us a glimpse into life in the past. Years before statehood in 1959, before Alaska became a territory in 1912, brave explorers showed up with early cameras to document life in the far north. Below are some of the oldest photos taken of Alaska. Enjoy these 16 images showing how life was lived in the Last Frontier a time long ago. You’ll travel along from the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s, and see up close how life was really lived over a century ago.

1. Group of Alaskan Women, Sitka. (1892)
Internet Archive Book Images [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons
You get a personal glimpse of what life was like in the 19th century in Alaska.
2. Bidarkas of otter hunters, Kodiak village. (circa 1888)
By Archival Photographer Stefan Claesson, Public Domain via Wikipedia Commons
This collection of photographs are some of the most historic photos of Alaska.
3. Community, Fort Tongass. (1868)
By Muybridge, Eadweard, 1830-1904 - Photographer via Wikimedia Commons
These photos are fascinating glimpses into how life was lived over a hundred years ago.
4. Sitka from Japanese Island. (1868)
By Muybridge, Eadweard, 1830-1904 - Photographer via Wikimedia Commons
The fact that these photos still exist today is fascinating.
5. A Tlingit canoe carrying a funeral party, Fort Wrangell. (circa 1887)
By Alexander Badlam; photographer William H. Partridge, Portland, Oregon [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
We are so grateful that these photographs give us a peek at the lives of Alaskans over a century later.
6. Tlingit mortuary houses at Fort Wrangell. The totems are wolf and killer whale. (1886-1890)
By Alexander Badlam; photographer Partridge, Portland Oregon [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
While many of these buildings are mere memories now, the photographs hold a snapshot in time of what our towns and villages looked like so many years ago.
7. Kitch Kawk, a Tlingit man of Sitka, in dancing costume. In the list of figures he is identified as a shaman. (1886-1887)
By photographer William H. Partridge attributed in caption. Britton & Rey were lithographers in San Francisco [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Many of the photos taken were along Southeast Alaska, as many people did not travel into the Interior of Alaska back then.
8. Panorama of Fort Wrangell. (1889)
By Archival Photographer Stefan Claesson [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
There were no roads into the Interior, and travel was dangerous.

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9. Treadwell mills and mine, Klondike Gold Rush, Douglas Island. (circa 1889)
By La Roche, Frank - Frank La Roche Photographs, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
The Gold Rush is what brought many people from the Lower 48 up to Alaska, where they fell in love with this wild state.
10. Public School, Juneau. (1890 or earlier)
By Illustrator not named [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
These photographs are a wonderful way to learn about the history of Alaska.
11. Killisnoo, showing village, bay, and steamship at dock. (1880's)
By Alexander Badlam; photographer Winter photo Co., Eugene, Oregon [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Many of the small villages and towns look much different nowadays, or don’t exist at all.
12. A wooden footbridge across the Indian River on a scenic walk, Sitka. (1880s)
By Alexander Badlam; photographer Ingersoll, St Paul, MN - The Wonders of Alaska The Bancroft Company, San Francisco; copyright 1890 Alexander Badlam - Wikimedia Commons
Many of the small towns that grew during the Gold Rush were later abandoned as ghost towns. Other towns, like Sitka, are still thriving today.
13. View of Sitka from Baranof Castle. (December 31, 1885)
By Alexander Badlam; photographer Winter Photo Company, Eugene, Oregon, engraving by Photo Engraving Co. - The Wonders of Alaska The Bancroft Company, San Francisco; copyright 1890 Alexander Badlam via Wikimedia Commons
It’s incredible to think that such primitive cameras could capture such a view like this.
14. Man in Aleut or Yupik style baidarka (boat). (1905)
By Internet Archive Book Images via Wikimedia Commons
Many of the photograph plates were developed outside of Alaska, which means that they were cared for very carefully until they were able to be developed.
15. Woman cooking over an open fire. (1905)
By Internet Archive Book Images [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons
By having access to these photos now, we have a wonderful first hand look at life in our state, in different towns and villages.
16. Woman and Child, Yukon River Valley. (1905)
By Internet Archive Book Images [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons
They are a stunning look at the tenacity, strength, and beauty of those that lived in this great state so long ago.

Are these the oldest photos of Alaska you’ve ever seen? Do you have any vintage photos take in Alaska? Feel free to share with our Facebook page!

If you’re interested in looking at more historic Alaskan photographs, These 17 Rare Photos Show Alaska’s Mining History Like Never Before.

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More to Explore

Oldest Photos Of Alaska

Megan McDonald | November 13, 2020

How long has Alaska been a state?

Alaska is a relatively young state! We were, in fact, the 49th state to join the United States of America. On January 3rd, 1959, Alaska officially joined America. It has been a state for sixty one years!

What years were the Klondike Gold Rush?

The Klondike Gold Rush ran from 1896 through 1899, and brought 100,000 prospectors out to Alaska and northwestern Canada.

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