1. On March 15, 1955, the city of Anchorage experienced one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in North America, measuring 8.6 on the Richter scale. The earthquake caused widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure, but fortunately, there were no fatalities.

2. In 1968, on March 15, the oil tanker SS Manhattan became the first vessel to successfully cross the Northwest Passage, a route through the Arctic Ocean that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

3. March 15, 2017 marked the 100th anniversary of the first successful sled dog serum run to Nome, known as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The race commemorates the heroic efforts of mushers and their dogs who traveled over 600 miles in extreme conditions to deliver life-saving diphtheria serum to the remote town of Nome.

4. In 1989, on March 15, the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska, when the oil tanker ran aground, spilling over 11 million gallons of crude oil into the pristine waters. The spill had devastating consequences for the local ecosystem and economy, with long-lasting effects still being felt today.

5. March 15, 1867 was the day that the United States officially took possession of Alaska from Russia, following the signing of the Treaty of Cession. The purchase of Alaska, commonly known as “Seward's Folly” after Secretary of State William H. Seward who negotiated the deal, was initially criticized, but has since proven to be a valuable acquisition for the United States.