American officials quickly discovered a major snag in planning for the summit: summertime is peak tourist season in Alaska, and options both available and equipped to host the two world leaders were severely limited.

When U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in Alaska on Friday, it will be the latest chapter in the 49th state’s long history with Russia — and with international tensions.

The U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7 million without consulting Indigenous residents. Now, Trump and Putin are set to meet there, negotiating Ukraine’s future on this symbolically charged stage.