1. In 1944, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck south central Alaska, causing significant damage to the city of Anchorage. The earthquake, which occurred at 10:53 am local time, was one of the largest to ever hit the area.

2. On February 4, 1936, the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race was first established. The race commemorates the historic serum run of 1925, in which a relay of mushers and sled dogs transported diphtheria antitoxin over 1,000 miles to Nome, Alaska.

3. In 1966, the world's largest oil rig, the Seacrest, was completed in Alaska's Cook Inlet. The rig, which weighed over 100,000 tons, was capable of drilling to a depth of over 25,000 feet.

4. On February 4, 2008, a record-breaking snowstorm hit the state of Alaska, dumping over 20 inches of snow in some areas. The storm caused numerous power outages and closures of schools and businesses throughout the state.

5. In 1989, the infamous Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Alaska's Prince William Sound. The spill, caused by a tanker running aground, released millions of gallons of oil into the ocean and resulted in widespread environmental damage. The disaster remains one of the worst oil spills in history.