Here are some historical events that took place on January 31 in Alaska.

1. In 1917, the United States Secretary of the Interior approved the creation of Alaska's first official state park, the Chugach National Forest.

2. In 1942, during World War II, Japanese forces bombed Dutch Harbor on the Aleutian Islands, causing significant damage to the U.S. military installations there.

3. In 1959, Alaska became the 49th state in the United States, achieving statehood on this day.

4. In 1968, an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck Fairbanks, causing significant damage to buildings in the area.

5. In 2011, snowfall in Anchorage broke a record for the heaviest 24-hour snow accumulation, with 15.8 inches falling over the course of the day.