Event
Alaska, Far Away: The New Deal Pioneers of the Matanuska
'Alaska Far Away' tells the story of the Matanuska Colonization Project of 1935, one of the most creative and controversial of the many New Deal programs designed to help American families devastated by the Great Depression. The project relocated 202 struggling farm families from the upper Midwest to the Matanuska Valley in Alaska to start an experimental farming colony, opening up Alaska for settlement, and giving these families a fresh start. It generated a whirlwind of publicity and controversy at the time, not only as a federally-funded social experiment, but also as one of the last pioneer movements in America.The Matanuska Colony isnt just a fascinating footnote to the history of Alaska. It brings to life the difficulties and despair of the Depression, the creative energy of the New Deal, the adventure of pioneering in Alaska, and the best and worst of both our government and ordinary citizens in facing those extraordinary challenges.Americans have always been fascinated by the pioneer experience and frontier mythology: the hardships, dangers, and excitement of leaving behind everything familiar to settle a new land. 'Alaska Far Away' reflects that sense of challenge and adventure, and the energetic pioneer spirit that brought these colonists to Alaska and helped to build it into a state.
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LocationLaw School Wayne State
471 West Palmer Street
Detroit, MI 48202
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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