In 1867, The United States purchased a huge 586,412 square miles of land from Russia for about $7,200,000 (about 1.9¢ per acre).
Despite what appeared to be a bargain even at that time, certain members of the press strenuously objected and derided the purchase calling it 'Seward's folly', Seward's icebox, and Andrew Johnson's polar bear garden. Nevertheless, we all know that this turned out to be a brilliant purchase for the USA.
Around 1896, gold was discovered in Alaska and a huge immigration of miners attempting to become rich flowed to this ice covered wilderness. This was also during the time period when the souvenir spoon 'frenzy' was at its height, so it is not unusual that we find a number of spoons from
Alaska.
Presented in this exhibition are just a few of the many images offered by this immense state.
Alaska is known as the 'land of the midnight sun' (but this spoon actually comes from Norway)
Mt. Mckinley is the highest mountain in North America
This 'skyline' style spoon shows us the frontage for Fairbanks, Alaska
Generic images of Alaskan gold mining on spoons. Note: a lot of other minerals are also mined in Alaska.
Tanana is located at the confluence of the Tanana and Yukon rivers.
Hand engraved skyline view of Valdez, Alaska.
Valdez is best known because of the huge oil spill that occurred there on March 29, 1989, but this spoon was made about 90 years prior.
Generic totem pole. More totem poles can be seen in that exhibit
Alaskan spoon honoring the musk ox
cute Nome, Alaska spoon with the dog saying "who said mush?"
Nicely formed art deco style spoon for the Capital, Juneau, Alaska
A number of other Alaska spoons may be seen in various other exhibits. The gold nugget exhibit shows Yukon spoons. The animal transportation exhibit shows several dog sled spoons. The Indian spoon for the North West shows a number of Indian made spoons from Alaska. The AYPE exhibition also features gold related spoons. The totem pole exhibit features a number of Alaskan spoons.
Return to spoon exhibit index