1. In 1951, the Territory of Alaska enacted the first statehood legislation which sought to convert Alaska from a U.S. territory to a state. The bill was ultimately unsuccessful, but it paved the way for Alaska's eventual statehood in 1959.

2. The famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which commemorates the historic 1925 serum run to Nome, often begins around April 5. The 1,000+ mile race typically starts in Anchorage and ends in Nome, taking mushers and their sled dogs through some of the most treacherous terrain in the world.

3. On April 5, 1882, the first official United States Geological Survey was conducted in Alaska. The survey team, led by famed geologist Clarence Dutton, explored the rugged terrain of the Wrangell Mountains and provided invaluable information about Alaska's geology and natural resources.

4. In 1943, during World War II, the United States Army established the Aleutian Islands Campaign to reclaim the Aleutian Islands from Japanese forces. On April 5 of that year, U.S. troops landed on Attu Island, beginning the two-month-long Battle of Attu.

5. On April 5, 2008, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck in the Aleutian Islands region of Alaska. The earthquake caused no major damage or injuries, but it was a reminder of the state's vulnerability to seismic activity due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.