America’s Last Frontier: The Story of Alaska
Course | Registration opens 8/4/2025 8:00 AM EDT
The Last Frontier, Seward’s Folly, and The Land of the Midnight Sun are three nicknames that embody popular notions of Alaska. But the real story of America’s biggest and wildest state is more complex. This program explores 300 years of Alaska’s fascinating history – from the first Russian fur-trading settlements, through the booming Gold Rush days, to the modern challenge of balancing natural resource development with conservation, tourism, and the preservation of native Alaskan culture.
John Maietta
In 2010 John Maietta retired from a lifelong public relations career, combining civilian employment with reserve and active-duty Army service. He then took up a new career, driven by his equally long enthusiasm for history. In 2014, he received a master's degree in applied history from Shippensburg University. He later taught introductory courses in world history at Shippensburg and York College of Pennsylvania. His popular presentations on history and culture have been featured at many libraries, retirement centers, and other venues throughout the region.