1. On June 20, 1911, the Alaska Railroad officially began construction in Seward, Alaska. The railroad was built to transport goods and people across the state, connecting cities and towns that were previously inaccessible by road.

2. In 1944, on June 20, the Great Alaskan Earthquake occurred, registering a 9.2 on the Richter scale. The earthquake lasted for over four and a half minutes and caused massive destruction throughout the state.

3. On June 20, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted in southwestern Washington, which had a significant impact on Alaska. Ash from the volcano reached as far north as Fairbanks, causing widespread damage and blanketing the region in a layer of ash.

4. In 1990, on June 20, the Exxon Valdez oil spill was declared "substantially complete." The spill occurred in March of that year and released over 10 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound, impacting marine life and the Alaskan fishing industry for years to come.

5. Finally, on June 20, 2004, the world's largest salmon barbecue took place in Ketchikan, Alaska. Over 10,000 pounds of salmon were served at the event, which drew thousands of attendees from around the state and beyond.