<Li> Alexandr Baranov (1746--1819), Russian trader and governor of Alaska . </Li> <Li> Edward Lewis "Bob" Bartlett (1904--1968), grew up in Fairbanks, was territorial delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives 1945--1959, and United States Senator from 1959 until his death . There are a substantial number of places throughout the state named for him . </Li> <Li> Benny Benson (1913--1972), Alaska Native from Chignik . Designed Alaska's flag at age 13 as a resident of the Jesse Lee Home . </Li> <Li> Vitus Bering (1681--1741), Danish explorer for the Russians, the first European to reach Alaska . </Li>

What was alaska like before it became a state