1. In 1879, the first edition of Alaska’s first newspaper, the Sitka Times, was published on July 5th. The newspaper was founded by a missionary named John G. Brady who wanted to spread news and information throughout the newly-acquired territory.

2. On July 5, 1984, the first-ever Iditarod Trail Invitational took place. The event is a long-distance race on the historic Iditarod Trail, which was originally used as a mail and supply route in the early 1900s. The race now attracts competitors from all over the world.

3. In 1919, the first airplane ever to land in Alaska touched down in Fairbanks on July 5th. The plane was flown by a pilot named Noel Wien, who went on to become one of Alaska’s most famous early aviators.

4. July 5th, 1943 marked the start of the construction of the Alaska Highway. The 1,523-mile road was built by the United States Army during World War II to connect the contiguous United States to Alaska, providing a crucial supply route for the war effort.

5. On July 5th, 1994, the U.S. Forest Service officially designated the Tongass National Forest as a “roadless area,” protecting 9.3 million acres of old-growth forest in Southeast Alaska. The Tongass is the largest national forest in the United States and is known for its stunning wilderness, wildlife, and recreation opportunities.