1. On January 23, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States of America. It was the first new state admitted to the union since Hawaii joined in 1959.

2. In 1972, a massive earthquake that registered 7.1 on the Richter scale struck the region around Fairbanks, Alaska. The quake caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, but there were no fatalities.

3. On January 23, 1969, two Sitka-based Coast Guard helicopters collided in mid-air while conducting a training exercise. Four crew members were killed in the accident.

4. In 1898, gold was discovered in the Yukon River in Alaska, setting off the famous Klondike Gold Rush. Thousands of prospectors flocked to the region in search of fortune, but most returned empty-handed.

5. On January 23, 2012, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Aleutian Islands, just off the coast of Alaska. While there was no significant damage, the event served as another reminder of the seismic activity that can occur in the region.