1. In 1861, Nevada was declared a state. August 13 is now recognized as Nevada Day, a holiday celebrated annually to commemorate statehood.

2. In 1930, construction began on the Hoover Dam, one of the largest dams in the world. The dam, located on the Nevada-Arizona border, took five years to complete and provided jobs and electricity to the surrounding areas.

3. In 1942, the Nevada Test Site was established for nuclear weapons testing. Over the next several decades, numerous above-ground and underground nuclear tests were conducted at the site, leading to the development of advanced weaponry.

4. In 1960, the first telecast of the Miss Universe pageant was broadcast from Miami Beach, Florida. Among the contestants was Miss Nevada, who ultimately placed second in the competition.

5. In 1999, the infamous "Blackout Bowl" occurred during a preseason football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders. The game was interrupted for nearly an hour due to a power outage at the stadium, prompting increased safety measures at future events.