With a population of about 260,000, Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska and one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse. In 1915, three years after Alaska became an official US territory, the site of present day Anchorage was selected as a construction base and supply depot for the rail line being built from Seward into the Interior. With the railroad came people attracted by the lure of jobs, adventure, and uncharted wilderness. The city grew steadily the first few decades after its founding and by 1950 had surpassed Juneau as the largest city in the Territory of Alaska. Upon Alaska’s admission to the Union in 1959, Anchorage’s population stood at 83,000.

In March of 1964, a massive earthquake in the Chugach Range nearby caused widespread damage throughout the state and left some parts of Anchorage devastated, particularly the downtown area, the international airport, and the Turnagain Arm neighborhood. With turmoil came prosperity as thousands of tradesmen arrived soon after to help rebuild, many of whom ultimately chose to settle in Alaska.

Although it’s farther north than St. Petersburg, Russia, Anchorage’s weather is surprisingly mild, the result of Japanese currents pushing warm, moisture laden air up into the Gulf of Alaska. Winter daytime highs hover around 20 degrees with an average of 69 inches of snow falling each year. Summer daytime highs average 65 degrees with over 19 hours of daylight on the summer solstice. Geographically, the city is bounded by the Chugach Range and the waters of Knik Arm, Turnagain Arm, and Cook Inlet. Downtown Anchorage sits on a bluff overlooking the Inlet and on a clear day, visitors can see the Alaska Range and Mount McKinley on the horizon—a distance of nearly 150 miles.

In summer, the city comes alive with numerous festivals and exhibits, millions of flowers, and a seemingly endless array of outdoor activities as the residents and tourists make the most of long hours of daylight and mild temperatures. The municipal area is criss-crossed by a network of 120 miles of paved trails and another 180 miles of wilderness trails popular with mountain bikers, hikers, and runners. Within the city limits, Delaney Park, Earthquake Park, Resolution Park and Kincaid Park provide scenic venues for outdoor entertainment and relaxation. One of the most popular attractions downtown during the summer is the huge outdoor market held every Saturday in the 3rd Avenue parking lot between C and E streets. The Summer Solstice Festival also attracts a lot of tourists and locals with a blend of arts and crafts exhibits, Alaskan food stalls, and local dancers, singers, musicians, and poets to entertain the crowds. Visitors arriving in town other times of the year can learn about Alaska’s native art, culture, and history by visiting the Anchorage Museum of History and Art located in the middle of downtown.

Another of Anchorage’s main roles is that of a convenient staging area and embarkation point for wilderness exploration and adventure. As Alaska’s main rail, air, and road hub, it serves as the gateway to the Kenai Peninsula to the south and Denali National Park and Fairbanks to the north and provides access to hundreds of remote towns and villages via Anchorage International Airport, Merrill Field, and the floatplane base at Lake Hood.