Today In History
5 Fun Facts About October 6 In Alaska History
1. On October 6, 1964, a massive earthquake measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale struck Alaska. It remains the most powerful earthquake recorded in North America and the second largest in the world. 2. On October 6, 1951, the University of Alaska Fairbanks was established as a land-grant institution, becoming...
5 Fun Facts About October 4 In Alaska History
1. In 1867, the Alaska Territory was officially transferred from Russia to the United States. This day is now known as Alaska Day and is celebrated annually on October 18. 2. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite. This historic event was witnessed by...
5 Fun Facts About September 27 In Alaska History
1. In 2002, the deadliest plane crash in Alaska history occurred on September 27 when a chartered flight crashed into a mountainside in southeast Alaska, killing all 10 people on board. 2. On September 27, 1967, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System received federal approval to construct a 800-mile pipeline to transport...
5 Fun Facts About September 20 In Alaska History
1. On September 20, 1867, the United States formally took possession of Alaska from Russia, marking the end of Russian colonization and the beginning of American control over the territory. 2. September 20, 1902, marks the opening of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, a world's fair held in Seattle, Washington that highlighted...
5 Fun Facts About September 16 In Alaska History
1. In 2015, Alaska's Mt. McKinley was officially renamed Denali, restoring the traditional name of the highest peak in North America. The change had been sought for decades by Alaska Native groups. 2. On September 16, 1964, a magnitude 9.2 earthquake struck Alaska, the most powerful earthquake recorded in North...
5 Fun Facts About September 15 In Alaska History
1. The Alaska State Fair officially opens on September 15 every year, showcasing agriculture, arts, and entertainment from around the state. 2. On September 15, 1964, the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America shook Alaska with a magnitude of 9.2, causing widespread damage and triggering deadly tsunamis. 3. In...
5 Fun Facts About September 13 In Alaska History
1. In 1898, the first gold nugget of the Klondike Gold Rush was discovered in Alaska, which triggered a mass migration of prospectors to the region. 2. In 1935, the SS Aleutian was sunk by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Alaska during World War II, resulting in the...
5 Fun Facts About September 12 In Alaska History
1. In 1916, the first airplane arrived in Fairbanks from Seattle, signaling a new era of transportation and commerce in Alaska. 2. In 1942, Japanese forces bombed Dutch Harbor on September 12, marking the only foreign attack on American soil during World War II. 3. In 1954, the earthquake that...
5 Fun Facts About September 3 In Alaska History
1. In 1964, a massive earthquake rocked Alaska on September 3, killing over 100 people and causing widespread destruction. The 9.2 magnitude quake remains the second-largest ever recorded. 2. September 3, 1950 marked the first official broadcast of Alaska’s own public radio station, now known as KSKA. 3. In 1912,...
5 Fun Facts About August 21 In Alaska History
1. In 1959, Alaska was admitted as the 49th state of the United States on August 21. This day is now celebrated as Statehood Day in Alaska. 2. On August 21, 1918, a massive forest fire known as the "Katalla Fire" burned through southeastern Alaska. The fire was sparked by...
5 Fun Facts About August 15 In Alaska History
1. On August 15, 1900, a group of prospectors discovered gold in Nome, Alaska, leading to the famous Nome Gold Rush. 2. On August 15, 1917, the USS F-1 submarine sank off the coast of Cape Suckling in Alaska, killing all 21 crew members. 3. On August 15, 1953, the...
5 Fun Facts About August 13 In Alaska History
1. In 1955, a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 struck the Aleutian Islands region of Alaska, causing extensive damage and triggering a small tsunami. 2. The Alaska State Fair, held annually in Palmer, Alaska, traditionally begins around August 13th and runs through Labor Day weekend. 3. On August...