Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. (more) Today in History—March 30: Why the U.S. Bought Alaska—When No One Else Wanted It Written by Michele Metych Michele Metych is the lead editor for Today in History at Encyclopædia Britannica. Michele Metych Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 25, 2026 •History On this day—barely, it was about 4 AM, after an all-nighter negotiating session—in 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward struck a deal with a Russian envoy: The United States would purchase Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. (That’d be almost $160 million today.) Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Want to learn more about what happened on March 30, or any other day of the year? Sign up to receive...

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