The signing of the Alaska Purchase took place on March 30, 1867. The United States agreed to buy Alaska from the Russian Empire for $7.2 million, which amounted to about 2 cents per acre for the 586,412 square miles of land.
The treaty was signed by U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward and Russian Minister Eduard de Stoeckl in Washington, D.C. The purchase was widely criticized at the time, with some calling it “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox”, as many Americans saw Alaska as a frozen wasteland. However, the acquisition turned out to be highly beneficial due to Alaska’s rich natural resources, including gold, oil, and fisheries.
The U.S. formally took possession of Alaska on October 18, 1867, in a ceremony at Sitka, Alaska, where the Russian flag was lowered and the American flag was raised. This date is still celebrated as Alaska Day today.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/alaska-purchase?utm_source=chatgpt.com