1. On October 2, 1867, the US flag was officially raised in Alaska, marking the transfer of the territory from Russian to American ownership. This event is now celebrated annually as Alaska Day.

2. In 1918, the largest recorded earthquake in Alaskan history occurred on October 2, measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale. The earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that devastated coastal communities, including the village of Shishmaref.

3. The first airplane flight in Alaska took place on October 2, 1913. Aviation pioneer James "Jimmy" Martin flew a Curtis pusher biplane from Anchorage to Wasilla, a distance of approximately 40 miles.

4. On October 2, 1947, the US Bureau of Land Management was established in Alaska. The agency is responsible for managing the state's vast public lands, including national parks and wildlife refuges.

5. In 1955, Alaska's first television station, KENI-TV, began broadcasting on October 2. The station was owned by the Alaska Broadcasting Corporation and aired a mix of local news, sports, and entertainment programming.