1) In 1867, the United States formally took possession of Alaska from Russia, in a ceremony held at Sitka. This event is celebrated as "Alaska Day" on October 18 each year.

2) Mendenhall Glacier, one of the most iconic landmarks in Alaska, was first named on July 27, 1891, in honor of Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, a prominent American physicist and geographer.

3) On July 27, 1912, the first airplane landed in Fairbanks, Alaska, marking the beginning of a new era in transportation and commerce for the state.

4) In 1953, the U.S. Air Force established Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, which played a crucial role in the Cold War and continues to be an important military installation today.

5) On July 27, 1986, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was amended to allow for the creation of 12 regional Native corporations, which would receive a portion of the funds and land granted under the original act. This amendment strengthened the economic and political power of Alaska Native people throughout the state.