1. In 1971, on September 21st, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was signed into law by President Richard Nixon. This act gave Native Alaskans the ability to claim ownership of their ancestral lands and make decisions regarding their own resources, culture, and future.

2. On September 21st, 1926, a historic airplane flight took place in Alaska. Carl Ben Eielson and Australian explorer Hubert Wilkins became the first pilots to fly across the Arctic Ocean in a single-engine aircraft, known as the "Norge". The aircraft took off from Spitsbergen Island off the coast of Norway and landed successfully in Teller, Alaska.

3. In 1992, on September 21st, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council was established in response to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The council's mission is to manage the use of funds resulting from the settlement of lawsuits against ExxonMobil and to restore the environment and communities affected by the spill.

4. September 21st, 1958 saw the launch of the first satellite, Explorer 1, by the United States. The satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and discovered Earth's radiation belts.

5. On September 21st, 1942, the Alaska Highway was officially opened to the public. This historic 1,500-mile-long road connects Alaska to the contiguous United States, and was built as a military project during World War II to provide a supply route to Alaska in case Japanese forces invaded the territory. Today, the highway serves as a major transportation route for Alaskans and visitors alike, and offers breathtaking scenery along the way.