- 1789: North Carolina became the twelfth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. The state had initially rejected the document in 1788 over the lack of a bill of rights, but reversed its decision at a convention held in Fayetteville and also ratified the U.S. Bill of Rights that same month.
- 1865: North Carolina officially ratified the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which formally abolished slavery throughout the United States.
- 1865: Shaw University was founded in Raleigh. Originally named the Raleigh Institute, it became the first historically black university in the South and one of the first in the nation to open its doors to women.
- 1875: The Currituck Beach Lighthouse was lit for the first time, aiding maritime navigation along the North Carolina coast. The distinctive red-brick lighthouse still stands today.
- 1906: The North Carolina Museum of Art hosted its first major exhibition in Raleigh. This marked a significant step in the state’s efforts to promote the arts and culture.
- 1923: A major fire broke out in downtown Raleigh, destroying several businesses and causing significant damage to the commercial district.
- 1944: U.S. Army Pvt. Booker T. Spicely, a Black soldier, was shot and killed by a white bus driver in Durham after questioning Jim Crow seating rules. The driver, Herman Lee Council, was later acquitted by an all-white jury in a controversial trial.
- 1956: The tradition of holiday lights in McAdenville began, when the Men’s Club and W.J. Pharr decorated trees around the community center. The town later became known as “Christmas Town U.S.A.”
- 1973: The North Carolina Zoo officially opened to the public near Asheboro, with its first exhibits featuring native animals. It has since grown into the world’s largest natural habitat zoo.
- 2015: Charlotte Douglas International Airport celebrated its 80th anniversary. The facility began as Charlotte Municipal Airport in 1935 and has grown into one of the busiest airports in the world.
