Statehood was approved by the U.S. Congress on July 7, 1958; Alaska was officially proclaimed a state on January 3, 1959.
stˈeɪthʊd wʌz ɐpɹˈuːvd baɪ ðə jˈuː.ˈɛs. kˈɑːŋɡɹəs ˌɔn dʒuːlˈaɪ sˈɛvən, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti ˈeɪt; ɐlˈæskə wʌz əfˈɪʃəli pɹəklˈeɪmd ɐ stˈeɪt ˌɔn dʒˈænjuːˌɛɹi θɹˈiː, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti nˈaɪn.