Downtown Juneau in Juneau Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)
William Henry Seward
1801-1872
Seward is considered to be among the most important Secretaries of State in the history of the United States.
Carl Schurz described Seward as: One of those spirits who sometimes will go ahead of public opinion instead of tamely following its footprints.
Asked to name his greatest achievement Seward said: The purchase of Alaska — but it will take the people a generation to find out.
Erected 2017 by Juneau Community Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Heroes. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.
Location. 58° 18.102′ N, 134° 24.622′ W. Marker is in Juneau, Alaska, in Juneau Borough. It is in Downtown Juneau. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and 4th Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. Marker is in a plaza in front of the Alaska State Capitol. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 359 Main St, Juneau AK 99801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Seward & Alaska (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named William Henry Seward (here, next to this marker); 4-Story Totem (within shouting distance of this marker); Liberty Bell Reproduction (within shouting distance of this marker); Harvesting of the Atom (within shouting distance of this marker); Bishop Michael H. Kenny (within shouting distance of this marker); Calhoun Ave. Overpass (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The MacKinnon Apartments (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Juneau.
Regarding William Henry Seward. The statue has been controversial even before its installation. Many Native Alaskans consider the 1867 sale fraudulent, saying Alaska never was Russia's to sell because it was their homeland and that Seward represented the continuation of white, patriarchal authority and disenfranchisement of Alaskan Natives under American rule. There have been periodic calls for the state to remove the statue, most recently in 2020.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 192 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 13, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.