Alaska was purchased from Russia for seven million two hundred thousand dollars.  A ridiculous price of approximately 2¢ an acre. It was a steal, but many derided William Seward for this. Where the heck was Alaska, anyway? Wasn’t it all cold and snowy? Who would want to ever live there? Seward’s enemies called this ‘Seward’s Folly’.

 

Did you know?

During the Cretaceous Period (145-66 million years ago) the Tallgrass Prairie was covered by the Western Interior Seaway.

Where you’re standing right now was a vast inland sea.

 

Did you know?

In the last 500 years, more than 190 species of birds have become extinct.