1. December 11, 1964, marked one of the deadliest earthquakes in Alaskan history. The "Great Alaskan Earthquake" registered at a magnitude of 9.2 and resulted in a massive tsunami that devastated coastal communities. The earthquake remains one of the most powerful ever recorded in the world.

2. In 1985, President Ronald Reagan signed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act into law on December 11. The legislation granted Alaska Natives the right to claim land and monetary compensation for the loss of traditional lands.

3. The first-ever Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race took place on December 11, 1973. The race covers over 1,000 miles of rugged terrain and has become a beloved Alaskan tradition.

4. On December 11, 1946, a US Air Force C 54 crashed into a mountain on the Seward Peninsula, killing all 27 people on board. The crash remains one of the worst aviation disasters in Alaskan history.

5. December 11, 1906, marks the founding of the town of Nome, Alaska. Nome played an essential role in the Klondike Gold Rush, and the area remains a hub for gold mining to this day.