The United States
bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million, roughly 2¢ an acre. It
would not gain statehood until 1959, 92 years later.
Secretary of State
William H. Seward agreed to purchase Alaska from Russia for only $7.2 million
in 1867. At the time, critics referred to this as "Seward's folly",
"Seward's Icebox" and "[President] Andrew Johnson's polar bear
garden".
With approximately
365 million acres, that amounts to less than 2 cents per acre. Still, critics
thought Seward was crazy, and the deal only passed the Senate by one vote. Moreover, found out that Alaska has gold and oil.
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