1. On January 22, 1957, the "Great Alaska Earthquake" with a magnitude of 8.6 struck the state. It is still the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in North America.

2. In 1898, gold was discovered in the Klondike, which led to the Klondike Gold Rush. Many prospectors passed through Alaska on their way to the gold fields, and January 22 was a significant day for many of them as they arrived in the area.

3. In 1968, the oil tanker SS Manhattan arrived in Valdez, Alaska, becoming the first ship to transport oil from the North Slope of Alaska. This event was a significant milestone in the development of Alaska's oil industry.

4. On January 22, 1987, the Sitka National Historical Park was established. The park preserves the site of a Tlingit fort and contains over 20 carved totem poles.

5. The Alaska State Flag was adopted on July 6, 1927, but it was first flown in public on January 22, 1959. The design of the flag features a blue background with eight gold stars representing the Big Dipper and the North Star.