Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska is the most populous city in the largest of the states constituting the United States of America. It's located on the coast of Cook Inlet, an area explored by Captain James Cook on his 3rd voyage of discovery commanding HMS Resolution in 1778. Archaeological research on the early history of the Anchorage area has found human occupation as early as 3000 B.C. By the time of first contact with Europeans in the 1750s, the indigenous population comprised predominantly Athabaskan Dena'ina people.

Ship Creek Landing was selected in 1914 to be the headquarters of the new Alaska Railroad to run from Seward on the coast to the interior and funded by the United States government. Funds were authorized in 1915 and the effort was coordinated by the Alaskan Engineering Commission. In the same year the US Post Office 'chose' the modern name, which was a popular local store of the day called "The Anchorage" (actually a dry-docked steamship.)

The city's newest convention center, overlooking the Chugach mountain range, is called the Dena'ina Center and is due to be completed in 2008.

Time zone

Anchorage is on Alaska Standard Time, which is one hour behind Pacific Standard Time, four hours behind Eastern Standard Time and ten behind Central European Time.