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5 Fun Facts About August 23 In Alaska History
1. In 2004, Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska, became the first female governor of the state. She went on to run for vice president in 2008 as the running mate of John McCain. 2. On August 23, 1966, the largest earthquake ever recorded in North America occurred in...
5 Fun Facts About August 22 In Alaska History
1. In 1958, a magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck the Lituya Bay area of Alaska, triggering a massive landslide that created a wave nearly 1,700 feet high, the tallest tsunami ever recorded. It wiped out a grove of trees and killed two people, but miraculously only caused minor damage elsewhere. 2....
5 Fun Facts About August 20 In Alaska History
1. The Alaska Boundary Dispute was resolved on August 20, 1903, when the United States and Great Britain agreed on the border between Alaska and Canada. The dispute had been ongoing for years and involved conflicting claims to the area by the two countries. The settlement established the current boundary...
5 Fun Facts About August 19 In Alaska History
1. On August 19, 1992, Hurricane Andrew struck the Gulf Coast of Florida causing widespread destruction and claiming the lives of 15 people. This was one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history, with damages estimated at over $26 billion. 2. In 1958, the U.S. government launched the Project...
5 Fun Facts About August 18 In Alaska History
1. In 1964, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake struck Alaska, known as the Great Alaska Earthquake. It was the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America and caused widespread destruction throughout the state. 2. The Alaska State Fair begins on August 18 and runs until Labor Day. The fair features agriculture...
5 Fun Facts About August 17 In Alaska History
1. On August 17, 1902, a devastating fire swept through the town of Rampart, Alaska, destroying nearly every building in the settlement. The fire was caused by sparks from a paddle steamer that had stopped at the town's dock. 2. August 17, 1964, marked the day that the Alaska Earthquake...
5 Fun Facts About August 16 In Alaska History
1. On August 16, 1955, the deadliest plane crash in U.S. history occurred in Seward, Alaska, when an Air Force C-119 transport plane crashed, killing all 37 passengers and crew on board. 2. August 16, 1959, marked the day that Alaska officially became the 49th state of the United States....
5 Fun Facts About August 14 In Alaska History
1. In 1912, the first hydroelectric plant in Alaska began producing electricity in Juneau on August 14. The plant was capable of producing 2,300 horsepower and provided electricity to the city for over 70 years. 2. On August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into...
5 Fun Facts About August 12 In Alaska History
1. In 1917, Alaska officially became a territory of the United States, as the Organic Act passed by Congress was signed into law on August 12 of that year. This act established a government for the territory and granted Alaskans more political representation. 2. In 1943, the construction of the...
5 Fun Facts About August 11 In Alaska History
1. On August 11, 1993, a record high temperature of 91°F (32.8°C) was recorded in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. This was a surprising and memorable event, as temperatures over 90°F are rare in Anchorage, which typically has mild summers. 2. On August 11, 1907, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition opened in Seattle,...
5 Fun Facts About August 10 In Alaska History
1. On August 10, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Alaska Highway Act, authorizing the construction of a military road connecting Alaska to the contiguous United States. 2. In 1968, on August 10, the village of Bethel became the site of one of the largest and most violent protests...
5 Fun Facts About August 9 In Alaska History
1. In 1995, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the first Russian Orthodox missionaries to Alaska. On August 9th of that year, a special religious service was held in Sitka to commemorate the occasion. 2. On August 9, 1977, the Tlingit-Haida Central Council held...