Today In History
5 Fun Facts About August 1 In Alaska History
1. The first day of the Alaska Gold Rush: August 1st, 1896 is considered the first day of the Klondike Gold Rush, a period that saw a large number of prospectors travel to Alaska in search of gold. Discoveries of gold in the Klondike region of Canada in 1896 set...
5 Fun Facts About July 31 In Alaska History
1. In 1912, the town of Knik, Alaska was destroyed by a massive rockslide on July 31st. The event, known as the Knik landslide, occurred when a large chunk of unstable rock on a nearby mountain gave way, burying the town and killing several people. 2. On July 31, 1937,...
5 Fun Facts About July 30 In Alaska History
1. In 1917, the Alaska Native Brotherhood was founded, which was a non-profit organization created to address the needs of Alaska Natives. It was established in Sitka, Alaska, and is the oldest and largest Native organization in the state. 2. In 1956, the United States Congress passed the Alaska Statehood...
5 Fun Facts About July 29 In Alaska History
1. In 1880, the USGS established the first seismic monitoring station in the United States in Sitka, Alaska. This station was responsible for studying earthquakes and volcanic activity in Alaska and throughout the Pacific. 2. On July 29, 1914, the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood were founded...
5 Fun Facts About July 28 In Alaska History
1. On July 28, 1911, Joe Juneau, one of the prospectors who discovered gold in Juneau, Alaska, died at the age of 79. Juneau had previously been a mayor and postmaster in the Alaska Territory. 2. In 1943, the U.S. Army established a military base in the Aleutian Islands called...
5 Fun Facts About July 27 In Alaska History
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...
5 Fun Facts About July 26 In Alaska History
1. On July 26, 1959, Alaska officially became the 49th state of the United States after an announcement by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 2. In 1990, on July 26, the cruise ship Royal Viking Sun ran aground near the Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, causing damage to the ship but no...
5 Fun Facts About July 25 In Alaska History
1. In 1895, the first issue of the Alaska-Yukon Magazine was published in Skagway, Alaska. This magazine focused on news and events in Alaska and the Yukon Territory, which was experiencing a gold rush at the time. 2. On July 25, 1943, the Japanese military launched a surprise attack on...
5 Fun Facts About July 24 In Alaska History
1. In 1867, the United States officially took ownership of Alaska from Russia, a process that had been negotiated earlier that year. This is now celebrated as Alaska Day on October 18, but July 24 was a significant date in the transfer of ownership. 2. On July 24, 1950, the...
5 Fun Facts About July 23 In Alaska History
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,...
5 Fun Facts About July 20 In Alaska History
1. On July 20, 1917, the United States Army established Fort Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska. The fort played a crucial role in the defense of Alaska during World War II and now serves as a major military installation for the United States Army. 2. In 1977, on July 20, three...
5 Fun Facts About July 19 In Alaska History
1. On July 19, 1909, the S.S. Georgia, a steamship carrying nearly 300 passengers and crew, sank in the Lynn Canal near Juneau after colliding with the S.S. Spokane. Miraculously, no one was killed in the accident. 2. In 1943, construction of the Alaska Highway was completed, connecting Alaska to...