What started back in 1950 continues to go strong, as the Fourth of July royalty tradition still helps make the annual celebration possible after 75 years.

“The 4th of July celebration wouldn’t happen without the royalty,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tracey Martin. “If it wasn’t for the royalty, there would need to be another fundraiser — probably a couple different ones.”

In April 1950, the chamber of commerce received permission from the city council to sponsor Wrangell’s holiday celebration. A queen contest was started as a fundraising initiative to support the events.

The sale of queen tickets was intended to reduce the need for soliciting additional funds from merchants, a practice common in previous years.

The rules established that each queen contest ticket sold for $1 entitled the purchaser to 100 votes for their chosen contestant. The contestant who sold the most tickets and received the most votes would be crowned Wrangell’s Fourth of July queen.

The very first winner was Patricia Lewis, who won with ticket sales of $405 ($5,395 equivalent in 2025).

Martin said she wasn’t exactly sure what year the change was made, but the contest eventually opened up to include male contestants.

“After that change, it went from being the 4th of July queen to royalty,” she noted. “And then the rules were changed to open competition up to any age limit.”

It also evolved into a contest selling fundraising raffle tickets, with cash or other prizes awarded to the winning ticket holders and the royalty crown going to the candidate who sells the most tickets.

Martin said the royalty contest involves “a lot of hard work.”

“There is a lot to do within the competition, and it can be stressful,” she explained. “But the community always looks forward to the food being available at the royalty booth. And it’s just a tradition that everyone supports.”

The largest amount of money ever raised by a queen candidate is $98,556 — by 2021 queen Emma Martinsen. But her younger sister Sophia Martinsen is actively working to beat that total as she vies for the crown herself this year.

Ticket sales, which have been underway since May 31, will end July 2.