1. On April 8, 1929, 200 reindeer were released on Chirikof Island in the Aleutian chain for the first time in an effort to establish a commercial herd. The effort was largely unsuccessful due to poor grazing conditions on the island.

2. On April 8, 1940, the Alaska Territorial Legislature established the Alaska Road Commission to improve transportation infrastructure in the territory. The commission played a critical role in the development of Alaska's road network over the following decades.

3. On April 8, 1964, a massive earthquake struck Alaska, measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale. The earthquake, which lasted approximately four and a half minutes, is the second-strongest earthquake ever recorded and caused widespread destruction and loss of life in coastal communities across the state.

4. On April 8, 1972, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System received its final permit from the federal government. The pipeline, which stretches 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay on Alaska's North Slope to the port of Valdez, transports approximately 2 million barrels of oil per day.

5. On April 8, 2019, the city of Anchorage was hit by a 5.0 magnitude earthquake, causing widespread power outages and some damage to buildings. While not as powerful as the 1964 earthquake, the tremor was a reminder of Alaska's ongoing seismic activity.