1. The Alaska State Fair officially opens on September 15 every year, showcasing agriculture, arts, and entertainment from around the state.

2. On September 15, 1964, the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America shook Alaska with a magnitude of 9.2, causing widespread damage and triggering deadly tsunamis.

3. In 1942, the Aleutian Islands in Alaska were invaded by Imperial Japan, marking the first foreign military occupation of American soil since the War of 1812. The invasion began on September 15 and lasted until 1943.

4. On September 15, 1877, Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe surrendered to the U.S. Army in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana, marking the end of the Nez Perce War. Many Nez Perce were later resettled in Alaska.

5. In 1955, the University of Alaska became the first accredited university in the state on September 15. Today, it has campuses in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Southeast Alaska, as well as distance learning programs.