October 18, 1867 marked the formal transfer of Alaska from Russian to American control with a official ceremony in downtown Sitka on Castle Hill. This event finalized the $7.2 million purchase known as “Seward’s Folly” because few people in post Civil War America could see why we paid so much for a frozen wasteland. We now see the payoffs in fish, oil, timber, tourism and many other benefits that come from the Alaska, including terrrific sport fishing. It’s hard to imagine the geopolitical impacts on 20th century if Alaska had been a republic in the Soviet Union. Amazing to think this global and national game changer was made official in Sitka.