Factoids
The Alaska State Capitol building
Funds appropriated by Congress in 1911 to pay for the purchase of the capitol site were sufficient
to pay for only half of the block on which the building is located. The citizens of Juneau raised the
additional money needed to buy the remainder of the site, and presented the property to the
government. The site and completed building represent an investment of approximately $1
million. Construction is of brick-faced concrete. The lower facade is faced with Indiana limestone.
The four columns of the portico and the interior trim are of light and dark Token marble from
quarries at Tokeen, Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska.1
Alaska Governor's Mansion
In the Building Act of 1910, Congress authorized the construction of a dwelling for the governor
and appropriated $40,000 to construct and furnish it.
The first governor to reside in the building was Walter Eli Clark and his family. They hosted the
first public function in the residence, a New Year's Open House, on January 1, 1913.
Nine territorial governors, one secretary of Alaska (acting governor), and eleven elected governors
(including Governor Hickel's two widely separated terms), have resided in the mansion.2
Juneau’s Size
The area of Juneau is larger than that of Rhode Island and Delaware individually and almost as
large as the two states combined. Juneau is the second largest city in Alaska (and the US) with an
area of 3,248 square miles total (including 928 square miles of ice cap, 704 square miles of water
and 264 square urbanized miles. (Sitka surpassed Juneau in 2000).
Streets
Juneau has 95 miles of streets, 37 miles of sidewalks, 130 miles of trails, 1,981 street signs, and
1,298, fire hydrants3
Capitol Move Votes
Alaska voters defeated propositions to move the capital in 1960, 1962, 1982, 1994, and 2002.4
1
http://sled.alaska.edu/akfaq/akcap.html
http://sled.alaska.edu/akfaq/akgov.html
3
CBJ
4
http://www.akhistorycourse.org/articles/article.php?artID=406
2
Climate
Juneau has a mild, maritime climate. The record high was 90 degrees in July 1975, and the record
low was minus 22 on Jan. 12, 1972.5 The mean annual temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Winter temperatures seldom drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures seldom
exceed 65 degrees. Snowfall is heavy in most winters, averaging 101 inches. Statistically, June is
the month with the least rainfall.6
Cruise Ships
Juneau is the fourth most popular cruising destination in the world.
(The biggest cruise market in the world is the Caribbean, closely followed by the Mediterranean.
The Baltic region represents the third most popular cruise region in the world.)
Tour the Alaska State Capitol Building
http://www.akhistorycourse.org/articles/article.php?artID=218
Population Distribution
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Downtown/Thane – 12%
Douglas Island – 17%
Mendenhall Valley – 50%
Glacier Highway – 20%
Race
17% of the Juneau population is Native Alaskan
5
6
http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/climate/Location/Southeast/Juneau.html
http://www.juneau.org/visitors/junfacts.php