1. In 1864, the Battle of Monocacy took place on August 15. Union forces under General Lew Wallace fought against Confederate troops under General Jubal A. Early. Although the Union forces were ultimately defeated, they delayed the Confederate advance towards Washington, D.C., giving the Union time to bring in reinforcements.

2. On August 15, 1814, during the War of 1812, British forces under General Robert Ross landed at the town of Benedict, Maryland. They went on to attack and burn Washington, D.C. a few days later.

3. The Baltimore Sun, one of Maryland's most notable newspapers, was first published on August 15, 1837. The newspaper has won multiple Pulitzer Prizes and has a circulation of over 133,000.

4. On August 15, 1957, the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland welcomed its first class of female students. Women had been allowed to attend other military academies before this, but it took several more years for the Naval Academy to open its doors to women.

5. August 15 is also National Maryland Day, which celebrates the founding of the colony of Maryland by Lord Baltimore in 1634. Maryland was one of the original thirteen colonies, and played an important role in the American Revolution and the development of the United States as a nation.