1. In 1907, a record high temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded in Fort Yukon, making it the highest temperature ever recorded in Alaska. This extreme heatwave caused widespread wildfires throughout the state.

2. In 1962, the Alaska Statehood Act was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy, officially making Alaska the 49th state in the United States. This act followed years of political and public debate over whether Alaska should become a state or remain a territory.

3. In 1986, the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Prince William Sound, causing one of the worst environmental disasters in Alaskan history. The spill released approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean, resulting in devastating effects on the local wildlife, economy, and ecosystem.

4. In 2003, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck near the Alaska-Yukon border, causing significant damage to infrastructure and buildings in Alaska as well as parts of Canada. The earthquake was one of the largest in Alaska's history and was felt as far away as Seattle.

5. In 2017, Alaskan hiker, Michael Soltis, completed the first-ever solo traverse of the Alaska Range, a 600-mile journey that took him nearly two months to complete. Soltis battled extreme weather conditions, treacherous terrain, and dangerous wildlife along the way, making his accomplishment a remarkable feat in Alaskan mountaineering history.