1. In 1913, the USS California arrived in Juneau, Alaska, with the governor of the territory on board. It was the first time a U.S. battleship had entered the port of Juneau.

2. On January 18, 1922, the first radio broadcast was made in Alaska. The station, which was located in Nome, transmitted a message of greetings and music to listeners throughout the region.

3. In 1943, the Alaska Highway officially opened to military and civilian traffic. The 1,500 mile road was constructed over the course of the Second World War, connecting the contiguous United States to Alaska by land.

4. On January 18, 1961, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States. The state, which had been a territory since 1912, was officially admitted to the union after a long campaign for statehood.

5. In 1995, a massive earthquake measuring a magnitude of 7.1 struck Alaska, causing damage in Anchorage and other parts of the state. Although there were no fatalities, the earthquake caused millions of dollars in damage and was a reminder of the powerful seismic activity that occurs in the region.