1. In 1867, the Alaska Territory was formally transferred from Russia to the United States. This transfer, known as the Alaska Purchase, was negotiated by Secretary of State William H. Seward and cost the US $7.2 million.

2. On November 2, 1904, a powerful earthquake struck the Aleutian Islands, with an estimated magnitude of 7.8. The earthquake triggered a tsunami that caused widespread damage and fatalities in several small Alaskan villages.

3. In 1958, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States. The decision followed a lengthy campaign by Alaskan leaders for statehood and was finally approved by Congress on July 7 of that year.

4. On November 2, 1974, the city of Anchorage was hit by a devastating earthquake, measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale. The earthquake caused widespread damage to the city, with 9 people killed and over 100 injured.

5. In 2010, Dan Sullivan was elected as the first Alaska-born senator to represent the state in the US Senate since 1968. Sullivan, a Republican, defeated incumbent Democrat Mark Begich in a closely-watched race that garnered national attention.