1. In 1900, the first shipment of gold was sent from Nome, Alaska. This marked the beginning of the Nome Gold Rush, which brought thousands of people to the area in search of riches.

2. On January 29, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States. This followed years of negotiations and debates over Alaska's status as a U.S. territory.

3. In 1986, the temperature in Prospect Creek, Alaska dropped to a record low of -80°F (-62°C). This remains the lowest temperature ever recorded in the United States.

4. On January 29, 2009, the Mount Redoubt volcano in Alaska erupted. The eruption sent ash clouds thousands of feet into the air and disrupted air travel throughout the region.

5. In 2017, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act turned 45 years old. This legislation was signed into law on December 18, 1971, and established a settlement process that gave Native Alaskans title to 44 million acres of land and $962.5 million in compensation from the federal government.