ERC-921 - Armchair Travel: Alaska, the Last Frontier

Course Description

Armchair Travel: Alaska, the Last Frontier | Explore Alaska’s history while learning about the unusual characters who have molded modern Alaska. Delve deep into the interior of the 49th state to Denali Park, Talkeetna and Fairbanks through a travel journey on the Alaska Railroad. Note: Senior Cycle fee class. Students must be 55 years or older by start date to enroll in this class.

Learner Outcomes

Identify the topography of Alaska and list three ways that this area culturally and historically connects to both modern-day Russia and the United States; Describe the historical development of the Inuit culture and the impact of the Gold Rush on the cultural development of the region; Examine the development of the National Park system in Alaska and list two ways the area currently is being protected or destroyed by tourism; Name the mode of transportation invented in Alaska, two historical transportation options in Alaska and how contemporary Alaskans manage the geographic barriers of the state; Explore the historical exploitation of Alaskan mineral resources and how these resources are reflected in Alaska’s contemporary value to the United States.