Today In History
5 Fun Facts About October 15 In Alaska History
1. In 1927, the historic Iditarod Trail in Alaska was officially designated as a US mail route to be used for dog sled transportation. The trail had been used for centuries as a trade and transportation route by Alaska Natives and early pioneers, and it became famous for the annual...
5 Fun Facts About October 14 In Alaska History
Here are 5 interesting facts about October 14 in Alaska's history: 1. In 1929, Alaska Airways was created. The airline company operated for 30 years until it merged with another Alaskan airline, Wien Air Alaska. 2. In 1939, the Alaska Territorial Legislature created the first University of Alaska. It started...
5 Fun Facts About October 13 In Alaska History
1. In 1972, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was signed into law on October 13th. This allowed for the indigenous people of Alaska to receive compensation for the lands they lost in the state. 2. On October 13, 1978, the Fairbanks pipeline explosion occurred, killing one person and injuring...
5 Fun Facts About October 11 In Alaska History
1. In 1886, gold was discovered in Kotzebue Sound, leading to a rush of prospectors to the area. This eventually led to the establishment of the town of Nome and the Klondike Gold Rush. 2. In 1942, the Alaska Highway was officially completed, connecting Alaska to Canada and the continental...
5 Fun Facts About October 10 In Alaska History
1. In 1867, the United States formally took possession of Alaska from Russia, completing a deal known as the Alaska Purchase. 2. In 1912, the Alaska Native Brotherhood was founded in Sitka. It is the oldest indigenous civil rights organization in the United States. 3. In 1935, the first hospital...
5 Fun Facts About October 9 In Alaska History
1. In 1917, the first shipment of coal was sent from the newly established town of Chickaloon in the Matanuska Valley. 2. In 1942, a Japanese submarine bombarded the town of Dutch Harbor on the Aleutian Islands, killing nearly 50 people and causing significant damage. This was the first time...
5 Fun Facts About October 8 In Alaska History
1. On October 8, 1867, the United States formally took possession of Alaska from Russia. The purchase of Alaska, also known as Seward's Folly or Seward's Icebox, marked the end of Russian colonial presence in North America and expanded the territorial boundaries of the US. 2. In 1904, the first...
5 Fun Facts About October 5 In Alaska History
1. In 1955, the first commercial jet service to Alaska began on October 5th with a Pan American World Airways’ Boeing 377 Stratocruiser flying from Seattle to Anchorage. 2. In 1962, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the region of Fairbanks, Alaska, at 3:36 pm on October 5th, causing widespread damage...
5 Fun Facts About October 3 In Alaska History
1. In 1955, the 9.2 magnitude earthquake known as the Great Alaska earthquake struck the state on October 3. It is the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America and caused massive destruction and tsunamis. 2. In 1883, the United States Navy established a coaling station in Unalaska on October...
5 Fun Facts About October 2 In Alaska History
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...
5 Fun Facts About October 1 In Alaska History
1. In 1942, American and Japanese forces engaged in a naval battle off the coast of Alaska. Known as the Battle of Cape Esperance, the engagement resulted in a strategic victory for the Americans. 2. On October 1, 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) was signed into law...
5 Fun Facts About September 30 In Alaska History
1. In 1967, Alaska officially became a state of the United States on September 30th. This historic moment came after decades of efforts from Alaskan politicians and citizens to gain statehood status. 2. On September 30, 1927, aviator Charles Lindbergh landed his plane in Mendenhall Valley, Alaska. This was part...