a dedicated group of Alaskans gathered in Fairbanks to shape the future. They worked with remarkable civic spirit to create a constitution that became the foundation for the state of Alaska. The 49th Star chronicles a great story of American democracy - an account of 55 people who gathered for 75 days in sub-zero temperatures for a Constitutional Convention. The 55 elected delegates represented communities across Alaska. Creativity, compromise and consensus were hallmarks of the Convention. Those qualities, combined with days and nights of discussion, argument and passionate debate, produced a constitution widely considered one of the best ever written. The Constitutional Convention and its result, a state constitution, was a pivotal achievement as Alaska continued its journey to statehood.
The 49th Star weaves interviews with original convention delegates and staff, historians and Alaskan leaders to reveal behind-the-scenes struggles for statehood.
