Alaskan Palin vists Seward's N.Y. home

AUBURN, N.Y., June 7 (UPI) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin paid homage this weekend to former U.S. Secretary of State William Henry Seward in his hometown of Auburn, N.Y., observers said.

Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for 8 cents per square mile in 1867, and his legacy is part of Alaska's celebrations commemorating its 50th year as a U.S. state, The Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat & Chronicle reported.

Palin's visit, which reportedly attracted thousands of onlookers, was a fundraiser for Seward House, a museum and the former secretary of state's home, and was part of Auburn's Founders Day celebrations.

The newspaper said the visit by the former Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee was mainly non-political, although Palin did speak about her decision not to allow Alaska to accept federal stimulus funds and her view that oil drilling should be allowed in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.