The name Alaska has appeared on some pretty impressive ships in the history of the United States Navy. From an early steam-powered warship, to one of the largest cruisers ever built, to a nuclear-powered submarine carrying enough firepower to alter the course of history, the USS Alaska name has evolved right alongside the state itself. So join us this week as we’re tracing the history of the vessels that have carried Alaska’s name...where they served, what made each one unique, and how the Last Frontier ended up represented on some very different generations of American warships.

How many ships have carried the name USS Alaska? Why was one of them so unusual that the Navy struggled to even classify it? And what does today’s USS Alaska have lurking beneath the waves? It’s the episode that if you're not careful, will blow you away!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Board Walker Belgian Amber Ale by Devil's Club Brewing Company

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

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A massive three-masted sailing ship recently pulled into Seward’s harbor, flying the flag of Mexico. It was a sight to behold, and your favorite Alaskan bald eagles even had the opportunity to climb aboard and tour the vessel. Interestingly enough, this wasn’t the ship’s first connection to Seward. So this week, we’re talking about the ARM Cuauhtémoc...its nearly four decades sailing the world as a training ship and floating ambassador for Mexico, its tragic collision with the Brooklyn Bridge, and the journey that eventually brought it all the way to Seward.

What is a Mexican Navy tall ship doing in Alaska? Why does Mexico still operate a ship that looks like it belongs in another century? And how did this same vessel end up making international headlines after colliding with the Brooklyn Bridge?! It’s the episode that proves sometimes one of Alaska’s most interesting stories can simply sail into town!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Forager Force by 49th State Brewing Company

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [https://www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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Building anything in Alaska comes with challenges. Mountains, glaciers, rivers, permafrost, earthquakes, brutal winters, and enormous distances have forced engineers to find solutions that simply aren’t necessary in most other places.

Yet Alaska is home to highways carved through wilderness, railroads crossing mountain ranges, massive dams, tunnels, bridges, and an 800-mile pipeline stretching from the Arctic to Prince William Sound.

So join us today as we dig into some amazing projects and count down our picks for the Top 10 Greatest Engineering Feats in Alaska. What did it take to build these projects? Which one presented the greatest engineering challenge? And which deserves the title of Alaska’s greatest engineering feat?! It’s the episode that's engineered for success!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Lingonberry Farmhouse Ale by Stoney Creek Brew House

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [https://www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

Support the show