Alaska statehood - Footage Vault

President Eisenhower era image marking Alaska becoming the 49th U.S. state

Alaska Statehood: How It Became the 49th State in 1959

Alaska became the 49th U.S. state on January 3, 1959. Learn how the Statehood Act, Cold War concerns, land questions, and a long local campaign led to statehood.

By Footage Vault

January 23, 2026September 13, 2026