The U.S. military has had a long history in Alaska dating back to the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. During World War II, the military built numerous bases across Alaska including an airfield near Galena. This became Galena Air Force Base and played an important role during the Cold War by intercepting Soviet aircraft. The base closed in 1993 after the Cold War ended. However, the facilities were converted into the Galena Interior Learning Academy, a boarding high school that provides education for rural Alaskan students.