1. In 1915, the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines (now the University of Alaska Fairbanks) was founded. Today, it is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska system and offers a wide range of educational programs.

2. On November 16, 1941, the Alaska Highway was dedicated. This 1,500 mile road was constructed during World War II as a military supply route and connected Alaska to the contiguous United States for the first time.

3. In 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States on November 16. This event marked the end of a long process of negotiation and struggle for statehood that had been ongoing since the early 1900s.

4. November 16, 1981, saw the completion of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. This 800-mile-long pipeline connects the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay on Alaska's North Slope to the ice-free port of Valdez on the state's southern coast.

5. On November 16, 2002, Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, killing all 88 people on board. The cause of the crash was attributed to a mechanical failure in the plane's horizontal stabilizer.