This educational film “Seward’s Folly” (1938) is about the United States’ acquisition of Alaska in 1867 that was negotiated and signed by Secretary of State William Seward (at that time many people believed it was a hopeless waste of money, thus “Seward’s Folly”). The film is also about the people who settled in the territory, which are referred to as “sourdoughs,” in hopes of finding gold and beginning a new life. The film features the beauty of Alaskan nature as well as Alaska’s mining, fishing, and tourism industries. Although the film does not have the main title or end credits, we believe it was released by Nu-Art in 1938.

Snow covered glaciers in Alaska (0:11). Large ship near the Alaskan North Pole (0:31). Ice is broken (0:35). Shadow of the smoke coming out of the ship (0:43). Mountains and ice in Alaska (0:48). Alaskan mountain and water (1:00). Canoe on Alaskan water (1:05). Large boat with the word Alaska on it and filled with a large number of people on it and looking at it heading from Seattle to Alaska in hopes of finding gold (1:12). Ship on the sea (1:16). Boat docked at Skagway and people on a small boat on its way to shore from the large boat (1:25). Alaskan outpost, Dyea, with a cabin near forest and mountains (1:32). People gather at the outpost, Dyea, waiting for favorable conditions to begin walking on the Chilkoot Pass (1:35). Future miners/gold diggers traveling on the Chilkoot Pass in freezing and unforgiving conditions (1:38). People on small boats on water near a massive snowy mountain (2:17). Men in Alaska near the water building (2:31). Men on a small boat surrounded by water and mountains (2:43). Rushing stream filled with salmon (2:46). Mountains, water, and boulders (3:23). Sun and horizon (3:27). Bears playing in Alaskan streams and catching salmon (3:35). Body of water with mountains in the background (4:10). Bow of a boat in the foreground with nature in the background (4:16). Man sits on the bow of a boat looking at the nature in front of him (4:25). Herds of moose and caribou (reindeer) run through water (4:30). Tons of people arriving in Nome, Alaska (5:10). Native Alaskan girls dance (5:13). Native Alaskan men perform (5:25). An Alaskan native smokes a pipe (5:54). An audience watches (5:56). Herds of reindeer running (6:07). A lot of salmon splashing in the water (6:39). People fishing salmon, cod, and halibut (6:49). Fishing boat in Alaskan waters (7:47). Fishing net (8:00). Fishing nets filled with fish (8:09). Seals on an Alaskan beach (8:12). Copper mine consisting of buildings built on a side of a mountain (8:31). Hydraulic mining (8:43). Ship on Alaskan water (8:49). Boat near a coastal town (8:52). Alaskan city (8:59). Passage in between mountains (9:13). Train Tracks on a mountain (9:16). Fox on a rock (9:31). Train tracks and laborers working beside them (9:35). Alaskan mountain (9:45). Stream running in between a mountain valley (9:50). Alaskan mountains (9:56). Smoke coming out of a train that is running on the side of an Alaskan mountain (10:00). Car driving on train tracks (10:10). Alaskan mountains and nature (10:15). Man walking on Alaska’s frozen surface and is accompanied by his German Shepherd (10:28). Church in Alaska (10:35). Gravestone in Alaska (10:45). Native Alaskan carving of a man and a bird (10:51). Clouds near the peak of an Alaskan mountain (10:57). Bow of a ship in the foreground and Alaskan waters and mountains in the background (11:10).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com