1867–1868: The Seward Era
After the United States purchased Alaska from Russia, officials under Secretary of State William Seward discussed acquiring Greenland as part of a broader push into the Arctic. Seward noted that the territory was rich in natural resources, including coal. The idea never advanced to a formal offer, however, as Congress had little interest in pursuing another Arctic acquisition so soon after Alaska.
1910: A Proposed Land Swap
Under President William Howard Taft, American diplomats floated a complex land-exchange plan that would have transferred Greenland to the United States in return for concessions elsewhere. Denmark rejected the proposal, and it quickly collapsed.
1946: Truman’s $100 Million Offer
The most formal American attempt came in 1946, when President Harry Truman’s administration formally offered Denmark $100 million in gold to purchase Greenland, citing the island’s strategic importance at the outset of the Cold War.
Greenland’s value had been demonstrated during World War II, when a U.S.-built airfield on the island served as a major refueling point for military planes flying to Europe. Denmark rejected Truman’s offer, though the United States retained military access to the island.
That military presence continues today at Pituffik Space Base, the Department of Defense’s northernmost installation.