1. In 1992, the Exxon Valdez oil spill case settlement was announced on December 3. This disaster occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska, in 1989 and is considered one of the worst oil spills in history.

2. On December 3, 1964, Alaska was hit by the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America, measuring a magnitude of 9.2. The earthquake and subsequent tsunamis caused widespread destruction and loss of life across the state.

3. The Alaska Legislature first convened on December 3, 1912, marking the official beginning of the newly established territory's representative government.

4. December 3, 1943, saw one of the largest disasters in Alaska aviation history. A US Army transport plane, carrying 41 passengers and crew, crashed into a mountain near Anchorage, killing everyone on board.

5. In 1985, the first commercial flight landed at the newly built Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on December 3. The airport is one of the world's busiest cargo hubs, with connections to destinations across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.