THROWBACK THURSDAY: Here's to Seward's Folly!

One hundred and fifty years ago today, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward signed a treaty with Russia to purchase what later would become the 49th state for $24 in beads.

Ooops. That was another land deal. Seward agreed to buy Alaska for $7 million -- which was about 2 cents per acre.

But while this still was a huge bargain, opponents mocked the deal as "Seward's Folly" or "Seward's Ice Box" or "Seward's Ice Capades" (Ok, I just made that one up.)

The U.S. Senate on April 7, 1867 ratified the treaty by a one-vote margin.

To celebrate, here's a musical tribute to the Last Frontier.


This is Alaska's official state song.



Here's what ought to be Alaska's damn state song:



Johnny Horton had a knack for Alaska songs



And finally some old fashioned Alaska-centric political incorrectness from Hank Thompson