President Barack Obama’s visit to Kotzebue, Alaska, on September 2nd was not only historic; it was singular.
It was part of the President’s first substantive* visit to the state, and the first presidential visit of any administration north of the Arctic Circle. Unsurprisingly, the visit prompted large crowds of people, some of whom held signs or could be seen wearing traditional, Alaska Native clothing. The President himself could be seen wearing characteristically Alaskan garb — a Carhartt jacket — during a tour of Kotzebue’s coastline.
Explore our photo gallery below. All photos: Matthew F. Smith, KNOM.
*An earlier version of this article stated that President Obama’s recent visit was his first to Alaska (without qualification). That is technically incorrect; per the Washington Post, the President and his entourage stopped to refuel at Elmendorf Air Force Base for less than two hours in 2009.
