Alphonse Louis Pinart in Alaska

Abstract

In the late 1800s European exploration of the “unknown” parts of the world was being conducted in attempts to obtain lands for their various empires but especially lands that produced wealth. The rush was on to acquire valuable resources. This included the Northwest Coast of North America. As Europeans arrived, native cultures began to disappear. Scholars became interested in saving the remaining vestiges of native cultures. France was represented by Alphonse Louis Pinart, who traveled twice to Alaska and published several articles on his findings. Below are translations of three of his works.