1. In 1966, the world's largest oil rig at that time, the Ocean Southern, arrived in the port of Valdez. This marked the beginning of the oil industry in Alaska, which has since become the state's most important industry and source of revenue.

2. On October 17, 1918, the town of Nome was quarantined due to the outbreak of the flu pandemic. The measure was necessary to contain the spread of the deadly disease, which had already claimed thousands of lives across the state.

3. In 1979, the Department of Transportation opened the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the longest highway tunnel in North America. The tunnel, which spans 2.5 miles, connects the towns of Whittier and Portage and was a major engineering feat at the time of its construction.

4. On October 17, 1907, the steamship Northwestern arrived in the port of Skagway, carrying the first load of cargo for the construction of the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad. The railroad, which was completed in 1900, was crucial to the transportation of goods and people during the Klondike Gold Rush.

5. In 2006, the small town of North Pole, Alaska, officially became a city. Located just outside of Fairbanks, North Pole is known for its festive Christmas decorations and year-round Santa Claus House attraction.