1. In 1956, the small town of Valdez was hit by the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in North America. The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 9.2, caused a massive tsunami that destroyed much of the town's infrastructure and killed 32 people.

2. In 1896, gold was discovered in the Klondike region of the Yukon Territory, which led to the famous Klondike Gold Rush. Thousands of people rushed to the area in search of fortune, including many from Alaska.

3. On January 4, 1952, a U.S. Air Force C-124 Globemaster crashed into Mount Gannett in the Chugach Mountains, killing all 52 people on board. The crash is still one of the worst aviation disasters in Alaska's history.

4. In 1915, the town of Seward was nearly destroyed by a massive fire that burned for several hours. The fire destroyed over 80% of the town's buildings, but no one was killed.

5. On January 4, 2005, the Alaska Marine Highway ferry LeConte ran aground on Cozian Reef in southeast Alaska. The accident, which happened during a severe storm, caused significant damage to the ferry's hull and engines, but all passengers and crew were safely evacuated.