Today In History
5 Fun Facts About January 20 In Alaska History
1. In 1901, the first gold was discovered in the Fairbanks area. This led to a gold rush and the establishment of the city of Fairbanks. 2. In 1939, the Anchorage Post Office and Federal Building was completed. It was designed by the architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood and is considered...
5 Fun Facts About January 18 In Alaska History
1. In 1913, the USS California arrived in Juneau, Alaska, with the governor of the territory on board. It was the first time a U.S. battleship had entered the port of Juneau. 2. On January 18, 1922, the first radio broadcast was made in Alaska. The station, which was located...
5 Fun Facts About January 13 In Alaska History
1. In 1913, the first airplane flight over Alaska took place on January 13, when pilot Charles "Pete" Christensen flew from Fairbanks to the mining camp of Chatanika. 2. On January 13, 1932, the temperature in Prospect Creek, Alaska dropped to -80°F, the lowest temperature ever recorded in the United...
5 Fun Facts About January 11 In Alaska History
1. In 1935, the Matanuska Valley Colony project began in Alaska, where 200 families from the Midwest were relocated to Alaska as part of the New Deal program. 2. In 1964, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake struck Alaska, known as the Great Alaska Earthquake, causing widespread damage and resulting in over...
5 Fun Facts About January 5 In Alaska History
1. In 1929, the first radio communication was established between Anchorage and Fairbanks. 2. In 1963, temperatures reached a record low of -80°F in Prospect Creek, the coldest temperature ever recorded in the United States. 3. In 1987, oil tanker M/V Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, causing...
5 Fun Facts About January 3 In Alaska History
1. On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States. 2. In 1979, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System began transporting oil from Alaska's North Slope to Valdez, marking a significant turning point for Alaska's oil industry. 3. The deadliest avalanche in United States history occurred on January...
5 Fun Facts About January 2 In Alaska History
1. January 2, 1971: Alaska Airlines Flight 1866 crashes into a mountain near Juneau, killing all 111 people on board. It remains the deadliest aviation accident in Alaska's history. 2. January 2, 1983: The famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins in Anchorage, Alaska. The race covers 1,000 miles through...
5 Fun Facts About December 31 In Alaska History
1. The Russian-American Company was dissolved on December 31, 1867, thus ending the era of Russian rule in Alaska. This paved the way for the United States to purchase Alaska from Russia the following day. 2. On December 31, 1970, the last operational U.S. military base in Alaska, Fort Richardson,...
5 Fun Facts About December 27 In Alaska History
1. On December 27, 1904, a historic fire occurred in the city of Nome, Alaska. The fire destroyed nearly all of the city's business district, leaving only a few buildings intact. It was a devastating blow to the people of Nome, who had to rebuild from scratch. 2. December 27,...
5 Fun Facts About December 26 In Alaska History
1. The 1964 Alaska earthquake, the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded, occurred on December 26. The quake measured 9.2 magnitude on the Richter scale and caused widespread damage and tsunamis that devastated coastal towns. 2. On December 26, 1996, an Anchorage-bound Alaska Airlines flight crashed into the ocean off...
5 Fun Facts About December 25 In Alaska History
Here are 5 interesting facts about December 25 in Alaska's history: 1. On December 25, 1818, the Russian Orthodox Church held Alaska's first Christmas celebration on Saint Michael's Island in the Aleutian chain. The post here also served as a school, printing shop, and parish. 2. In 1867, the United...
5 Fun Facts About December 22 In Alaska History
1. On December 22, 1964, the largest earthquake in North American history struck Alaska. Known as the Great Alaska Earthquake, it had a magnitude of 9.2 and caused massive destruction and loss of life. 2. In 1955, the Arctic village of Kiana was established on December 22. Located in the...