1920's
Wildlife biologist and conservationist Olaus Murie explores many river drainage in the Brooks Range recording flora and fauna. Margaret (Mardy) Murie accompanies him on many of these trips by dog team or boat.

1923: 23 million-acre Naval Petroleum Reserve established in western Arctic for national defense purposes by executive order of President Harding.

1930's
Forester Robert Marshall explores the central Brooks Range. He speaks eloquently about wilderness in northern Alaska and introduces idea of setting aside a large area as an arctic preserve.

1935: Marshall works with other conservationists to form The Wilderness Society. He strikes a friendship with Olaus Murie and this marks the beginning of a grassroots effort to establish an arctic preserve.

1938: One year before his untimely death, Marshall, on behalf of the Forest Service, recommends in a congressional study that all of Alaska north of the Yukon River, with the exception of an area near Nome, be permanently set aside.

1940's 1943: The Department of Interior issues Public Land Order 82 proclaiming that all of Alaska's lands north of the crest of the Brooks Range be reserved for national defense purposes, an area the size of South Dakota.

1949: With World War II over, federal government takes interest in studying lands within Alaska that might be suitable for recreation. George Collins and Lowell Sumner plan to travel extensively across Alaska for National Park Service, developing a parks and recreation program.

1950's
Early 50's: Clarence Rhode, territorial director of Fish and Wildlife, introduces Collins, Sumner and others to northeast corner of Alaska, a place that would someday become the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

1952: Collins and Sumner spend most of summer surveying northeastern part of Alaska. Collins first impression: "…the finest park prospect I have ever seen." They draw support for arctic preserve from conservationists such as Murie, Howard Zahniser, Sig Olson, and many others.

1956: Olaus and Mardy Maurie conduct scientific studies on Sheenjek River. Supreme Court Justice William O Douglas visits Murie camp. Along with Muries, he writes and speaks about the extraordinary natural values of the area.

1956-59: Grassroots campaign begins in earnest. Alaska's Tanana Valley Sportsmen's Association, Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, and Fairbanks News Miner endorse Arctic Range proposal. Alaska's Department of Mines and Anchorage Chamber of Commerce oppose idea, saying it would "cripple development."

1958-59 Alaska becomes the 49th state. Alaska is granted the right to select more than 100 million acres, an area larger than any other U.S. state. Senator Warren Magnuson introduces legislation to establish Arctic Range. Alaska Senators Bartlett and Gruening are strongly opposed.

1960's
1960: House of Representatives passes Arctic Range legislation, but U.S. Senate blocks passage.

1960: On December 2, President Dwight Eisenhower's Secretary of Interior, Fred Seaton, establishes the 8.9 million-acre Arctic Range for its wilderness, wildlife, and recreational values by executive proclamation. He also revokes Public Land Order 82 that opens 20 million acres on the North Slope of Alaska to potential resource development, including the area around Prudhoe Bay.

1964: Congress passes The Wilderness Act.

1968: North America's largest oil field is discovered at Prudhoe Bay.

1970's
1970: President Nixon signs National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) into law.

1971: Congress passes Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which includes a provision Sec. 17 (d)(2), calling for 80 million acres of federal lands in Alaska to be protected as parks and wildlife refuges.

1973: Vice President Agnew breaks tie vote in Senate allowing 800-mile Trans-Alaska Pipeline to be constructed. Senate also exempts pipeline construction from NEPA.

1978-79: The House of Representatives twice passes legislation that includes wilderness designation for the Arctic Refuge coastal plain. The Senate opposes the measure.

1980's
1980: Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act is passed, doubling the size of the Arctic Range and renaming it the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Nearly all of the former Range is designated as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, but in compromise with Senate, Section 1002 ("Ten-oh-two") is included, mandating a study of the oil potential and biological resources of the portion omitted from wilderness designation, the coastal plain. However, Congressman Mo Udall also ensures inclusion of provision that closes the coastal plain to oil and gas exploration unless specifically opened by Congress.

1986: Rep. Mo Udall introduces a bill to designate coastal plain of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness. Later, Senator William Roth (E-DE) introduces companion Senate measure.

1987: Reagan Administration's Interior Department releases "1002 Report," recommending full leasing of coastal plain. Political figures overrule scientists at Fish and Wildlife Service that predict up to a 40 percent decline or displacement of Porcupine Caribou Herd if oil development is allowed.

1989: Exxon Valdez spills 11 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound, oiling 1,500 miles of beaches and killing 250,000 birds, 300 harbor seals, 2800 sea otters, and 13 killer whales. Public opposition in wake of the spill scuttles legislation that would allow drilling in Arctic Refuge.

1990's
1991: In aftermath of Persian Gulf War, President George Bush proposes a National Energy Policy that calls for full-scale leasing of the coastal plain. Senators Bennett Johnson (D-Louisiana) and Malcolm Wallop (R-WY) introduce the bill, which is defeated by a filibuster and intense opposition from environmental groups and Gwich'in Athabaskan Indians of Northeast Alaska and Northwest Canada.

1992: Candidate Bill Clinton promises to fight for wilderness designation of Arctic Refuge.

1994: Republicans gain control of Congress. Alaskan Senator Frank Murkowski and Representative Don Young assume chairmanships of Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committees and House Resources Committees respectively.

1995: Young, Murkowski, and Stevens attach a "rider" to massive federal budget reconciliation bill that mandates Arctic Refuge oil development. President Clinton vetoes entire bill, citing Arctic Refuge provision as a chief objection. Government shutdown ensues and Arctic Refuge is spared.

1997-98: Conservation community, along with Gwich'in and other allies, launch new proactive campaign for wilderness designation of coastal plain. Representative Vento's Morris K. Udall Wilderness Act gains 151 cosponsors. Senator Roth's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Wilderness Act gains 19 cosponsors.

1999: Vento bill (HR 1239) reaches all-time record 166 cosponsors. Roth bill gains 25 cosponsors, including Republicans Jeffords and John Chafee. Don Young introduces "Arctic Domestic Energy Security Act" (HR 2250).

2000: Senator Murkowski uses spike in oil prices as new excuse to push for Arctic Refuge drilling. A provision is included in the FY 2001 Budget Resolution which assumes revenues for lease sales in the coastal plain.