Who Really Put Each U.S. State on the Map?

In 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia, a move critics called “Seward’s Folly.” Initially ridiculed, the acquisition proved invaluable once gold, oil, and strategic advantages became clear.

Alaska’s profile rose dramatically, attracting settlers, industries, and later tourists to its vast wilderness. Seward’s vision turned a perceived frozen wasteland into an economic and geopolitical asset, influencing the state’s identity as a frontier of opportunity and natural wonder.