Traveling Exhibits: Creating Alaska
Creating Alaska: The Origins of the 49th State
Fifty years ago, on Nov. 8, 1955, fifty-five Alaskans sat down to draft the future of Alaska. The delegates to Alaska’s Constitutional Convention took on the task of writing a constitution for a state that did not yet exist. They had 75 days to complete their
work. Alaskans quickly approved the constitution, a clear sign to the nation that Alaskans were ready to join the Union. When statehood came in 1959, the document written at Constitution Hall at UAF became the foundation of our state government. Since then, it has been hailed by impartial observers as a model constitution for its brevity, flexibility and protection of individual rights.
As host of the Constitutional Convention, the University of Alaska has a special interest in preserving the history of this event. In February 2004, the University launched Creating Alaska, a project to gather, preserve and promote public understanding of Alaska’s constitutional history, through collection of oral histories, archiving of historical artifacts and development of public education efforts.
The Creating Alaska exhibition has been touring the state since November 2005.
Exhibition Schedule
Version I
| Sitka Historical Society, Sitka | October. 1, - November 1, 2009 |
| Valdez Historical Museum | February 2, – September 20, 2009 |
Version II
| Corova Historical Museum | October 1, – November 15, 2009 |
| State Capitol Building | February 2, - September 15, 2009 |
Version III
| Bristol Bay School District | October 10, - November 10, 2009 |
| Alaska State Museum | April 1, - October 1, 2009 |
Shipping Crates and Weights
| Crates | Dimensions | Pounds |
| 4 crates | 39"x12"x36.5" | 160 each |
| 1 crate | 38"x47.5"x14" | 190 each |
| 1 crate | 84"x20"x12" | 200 each |
Two new light weight versions of the exhibit have been produced
- Version1
- 20 wall hung panels 30” x 32”
- 1 crate 36” x 34” x 12” 140#
- Version 2
- 20 wall hung panels 15” X 16”
- 1 crate 20” x 20” x 12” 60#
Page last updated 02/13/2012
