1. On August 19, 1992, Hurricane Andrew struck the Gulf Coast of Florida causing widespread destruction and claiming the lives of 15 people. This was one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history, with damages estimated at over $26 billion.

2. In 1958, the U.S. government launched the Project Argus nuclear weapons test program in the South Atlantic. August 19 was the day the first of three high-altitude nuclear detonations was conducted, causing widespread disturbances in the Earth's electromagnetic field.

3. On August 19, 1946, a magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, causing widespread destruction and triggering tsunamis that reached as far as Hawaii and Japan.

4. In 1909, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition opened in Seattle, Washington, celebrating the region's culture and history. August 19 was the day of the fair's opening ceremony, which featured parades, speeches, and exhibitions from Alaska, Yukon, and other parts of the Pacific Northwest.

5. On August 19, 1852, a group of Russian colonists arrived in Sitka, Alaska, to establish a new settlement in the territory. This marked the beginning of a period of significant social and economic change for Alaska, as European settlers and traders became more involved in the region's affairs.