We are looking at three related items today with North to Alaska Statehood 1984 stamp. There is the Alaska Statehood 25th Anniversary 1984 stamp; along with a letter from Attorney General William Rogers to President Eisenhower regarding proposed proclamation for Alaska statehood, December 31, 1958. And we have the fun of the 1960 John Wayne movie, “North to Alaska”.

The Alaska Statehood 25th Anniversary 1984 stamp “commemorated several events in Alaskan history. It highlighted the 25th anniversary of Alaskan statehood, the 200th anniversary of the first permanent settlement in the state and the 100th anniversary of the first civil government.”

There was a childhood scrapbook I can still vividly recall containing the newspaper clipping from this day in 1959.  The full-page newspaper article had very large text for the headline declaring Alaska becoming the 49th state with a photo of President Eisenhower.  The last time I remember actually holding that newspaper clipping in my hands was around 1967!

This link will take you to see the two-page typed  Letter, Attorney General William Rogers to the President regarding proposed proclamation for Alaska statehood, December 31, 1958.  “On January 3, 1959 he signed the official proclamation admitting Alaska as the 49th state.”
The Alaska Statehood page of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home website includes this and many other letters.

In 1960 the John Wayne movie came out “North to Alaska”, with the Johnny Horton song with the same title.
This YouTube from 2014 has a great intro from TCM of the movie “North to Alaska”.

Perhaps an upcoming January movie weekend will find this movie included in the queue to re-watch! See if you don’t find yourself humming the song today!

Anchors Aweigh,