1. On June 12, 1971, Alaska became the first state in the United States to abolish the death penalty. Governor William A. Egan signed a bill that replaced capital punishment with mandatory life imprisonment for certain serious crimes.

2. June 12, 1987, saw the deadliest plane crash in Alaska's history. A Fairchild Industries plane crashed into the side of a mountain near the town of Hoonah, killing all 10 people on board.

3. In 1995, on June 12, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck near the town of Glennallen, Alaska. The quake caused significant damage to roads, buildings, and a pipeline, but no fatalities were reported.

4. On June 12, 2016, a massive wildfire known as the Sockeye Fire broke out near the town of Willow, Alaska. The fire burned over 7,200 acres and destroyed more than 50 homes before it was finally contained.

5. June 12, 1967, saw the opening of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, a massive engineering feat that allowed for the transportation of oil from Alaska's North Slope to Valdez on the southern coast. The pipeline is still in operation to this day and has been a significant contributor to Alaska's economy.