Here are five interesting facts about October 25 in Alaska history:

1. In 1854, the Russian Orthodox Church opened the first school in Sitka, Alaska, which also marked the beginning of formal education in the state.
2. In 1867, the transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States was completed with the lowering of the Russian flag and raising of the U.S. flag in Sitka.
3. In 1940, the Alaska Highway, a 1,700-mile road connecting Alaska to the contiguous United States, was officially opened for military use during World War II.
4. In 1960, a magnitude 9.2 earthquake struck near the Alaska coast, causing widespread damage and triggering a tsunami that caused devastation across the Pacific Ocean.
5. In 2002, Michael Fortune and Kevin Sharpe set a new world record for the fastest unsupported journey from the southern coast to the Arctic Ocean in Alaska, completing the 2,175-mile trek on foot, skis, and rafts in 51 days.