1. On December 2, 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) was signed into law by President Richard Nixon. The act granted indigenous groups title to over 44 million acres of land and provided nearly $1 billion in compensation.
2. In 1985, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck near Amchitka Island, causing tsunamis that affected the coastlines of Alaska, Hawaii, and California. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
3. December 2, 2010, marked the opening of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport's new south terminal. The $450 million project included new gates, a baggage system, and improved security measures.
4. The first-ever ice hockey game between the University of Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska Fairbanks was played on December 2, 1979. UAF won the game 11-2.
5. On December 2, 1896, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported the discovery of gold in the Klondike region of Alaska. This sparked the Klondike Gold Rush, which brought thousands of prospectors to the area and helped establish Alaska as a territory.