1. On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States.
2. In 1979, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System began transporting oil from Alaska's North Slope to Valdez, marking a significant turning point for Alaska's oil industry.
3. The deadliest avalanche in United States history occurred on January 3, 1916, at Valdez, Alaska, resulting in the deaths of 26 people.
4. On January 3, 2008, the Alaska State Troopers killed a man named Emmonak, who was the first person to be killed by the troopers in over three years.
5. January 3 is also significant in Alaskan Native history, as it is the anniversary of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1971. This act provided a framework for resolving long-standing land disputes between Alaska Natives and the federal government.