1. Alaska became a territory of the United States on November 3, 1884, with the official transfer of authority from Russia to the U.S.

2. On November 3, 1906, the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century took place in Alaska, when Mount Novarupta erupted. The eruption spewed ash and other materials into the air, with the ash cloud reaching heights of up to 20 miles.

3. November 3, 1948, is the day that Alaska Republican Ernest Gruening was elected as the territory's second governor. He was a staunch supporter of statehood for Alaska and played a key role in the state's passage to statehood in 1959.

4. On November 3, 1986, a major oil spill occurred in Cook Inlet, Alaska, when a tanker named the Exxon Baton Rouge ran aground on a sandbar. Approximately 100,000 gallons of crude oil were spilled into the water.

5. November 3, 1992, is the date that the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was amended by Congress, allowing for the passage of the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Restoration Act. This act aimed to preserve and promote the use of Alaska Native languages, recognizing their cultural value and importance.