Alaska became part of the United States

150 years ago today, Alaska passed from Russian to U.S. hands for a fee of 7.2 Million Dollars. Here's the actual check.

On this day in 1867, the U.S. formally takes possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia for $7.2 million, or less than two cents an acre. The Alaska purchase comprised 586,412 square miles, about twice the size of Texas, and was championed by William Henry Seward.