1) In 1904, the first sourdough mining camp meeting was held in Fairbanks, Alaska, establishing a tradition of spiritual gatherings that continue to this day.
2) On August 2, 1945, the Japanese city of Hiroshima was bombed with an atomic bomb, an event that ultimately spurred the end of World War II and solidified Alaska's role as a strategic military location.
3) In 1975, the Alaska State Legislature established August 2 as Alaska Flag Day, honoring the adoption of Alaska's flag on this date in 1959.
4) The Pacific Ocean's Aleutian Islands, which border Alaska, form the Ring of Fire, a region that is highly susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic activity. On August 2, 1931, the Shishaldin Volcano erupted, the first reported eruption since the area became inhabited by humans.
5) In 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was signed into law, granting Alaska Native people ownership of millions of acres of land and a $962.5 million compensation package in exchange for relinquishing aboriginal claims to the land. This landmark legislation drastically altered the economic and social landscape of Alaska.