1. On April 12, 1964, a devastating earthquake, the second largest ever recorded, struck Alaska with a magnitude of 9.2. The quake lasted nearly 4 minutes and caused widespread destruction and tsunamis that killed over 130 people.

2. On April 12, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany, marking Alaska's entry into World War I. Like many other states at the time, Alaska played a role in the war effort by supplying men, resources, and support.

3. On April 12, 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in Warm Springs, Georgia, and Vice President Harry S. Truman became President. This event was significant for Alaska because Truman was the President who signed the Alaska Statehood Act in 1959, which made Alaska the 49th state.

4. April 12 is also recognized as Aviation Day in Alaska, commemorating the first successful flight of a powered aircraft in the state by James V. Martin on April 12, 1913.

5. In recent years, on April 12, Alaska has celebrated the anniversary of the discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay. In 1968, oil was discovered at Prudhoe Bay, which later became the largest oil field in North America and a major source of income and employment for Alaska.