Today In History
5 Fun Facts About September 5 In Alaska History
1. The Alaska Gold Rush Began on September 5, 1896 On September 5, 1896, a man named George Carmack discovered gold in Rabbit Creek, which would later become known as Bonanza Creek, in the Yukon Territory of Canada. This discovery led to the Klondike Gold Rush, which drew thousands of...
5 Fun Facts About September 4 In Alaska History
1. On September 4th, 1979, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, which spans 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, began operation. The pipeline carries crude oil from the North Slope to the southern coast of Alaska for shipment to refineries in the lower 48 states. 2. September 4th, 1889 marked the...
5 Fun Facts About September 2 In Alaska History
1. In 1945, the Japanese officially surrendered to the Allied Powers aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, ending World War II. This event is known as V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day) and took place on September 2. While this event did not directly impact Alaska, as it was...
5 Fun Facts About September 1 In Alaska History
1. The Alaska State Flag was officially adopted on September 1, 1959. The flag features eight gold stars, representing the Big Dipper constellation and the North Star, on a field of blue. 2. On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, sparking the beginning of World War II. This event...
5 Fun Facts About August 31 In Alaska History
1. On August 31, 1912, the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) was formed in Sitka, Alaska. This organization was established to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Alaska Natives, and it played a significant role in advocating for the statehood of Alaska. 2. In 1959, on August 31, Alaska...
5 Fun Facts About August 30 In Alaska History
1. On August 30, 1867, the United States officially took possession of Alaska from Russia in what became known as the Alaska Purchase. The U.S. paid $7.2 million for the territory, which was home to indigenous peoples for thousands of years before European exploration. 2. In 1918, a devastating wildfire...
5 Fun Facts About August 29 In Alaska History
1. On August 29, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson established the Katmai National Monument in Alaska. The monument was created to protect the area surrounding the volcanic Mount Katmai and its neighboring Novarupta volcano, which erupted in 1912. 2. In 1958, the Alaska Statehood Act was signed on August 29 by...
5 Fun Facts About August 28 In Alaska History
1. In 1917, Alaska's first radio communication was established between Fort Liscum and the navy radio station in Cordova. This allowed for more efficient communication within the state and with the rest of the world. 2. On August 28, 1923, the 4th Avenue Theatre opened in Anchorage. It was the...
5 Fun Facts About August 27 In Alaska History
1. In 1912, the first airplane took off in Alaska. Pilot Frank Barlow flew a Wright Model B biplane in Fairbanks, Alaska, making it the first airplane flight in the state's history. 2. On August 27, 1958, the United States Department of the Interior established the Arctic National Wildlife Range...
5 Fun Facts About August 26 In Alaska History
1. In 1910, the S.S. Victoria, a steamship traveling from Sitka to Juneau, sank off the coast of Southeast Alaska due to heavy fog. All passengers and crew survived, but the ship itself was lost. 2. In 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Alaska Statehood Act, formally admitting Alaska...
5 Fun Facts About August 25 In Alaska History
1. On August 25, 1917, the United States Navy established the Alaska Communication System (ACS), a network of radio stations across Alaska that allowed communication between remote outposts, airfields, and ships. The network played a critical role in Alaska's defense during World War II. 2. August 25, 1929, marks the...
5 Fun Facts About August 24 In Alaska History
1. Alaska Day of Service and Remembrance On August 24, 2019, the state of Alaska recognized the annual National Day of Service and Remembrance by partnering with organizations across the state. Volunteers participated in a range of service projects and activities aimed at honoring the fallen heroes of September 11,...