1. Solar eclipse: On August 21, 2017, Oregon witnessed a significant astronomical event in the form of a total solar eclipse. The eclipse path crossed 14 states, and Oregon was the first point in the United States to experience the phenomenon. Over one million people traveled to Oregon to witness the event, making it the largest single-day tourism event in Oregon's history.

2. Statehood day: August 21 is also celebrated annually as Statehood Day in Oregon. This public holiday commemorates the date in 1859 when Oregon became the 33rd state to join the Union.

3. Columbia river treaty: On August 21, 1963, the United States and Canada signed the Columbia River Treaty in Oregon's capital city of Salem. The treaty manages the distribution of water rights and electricity production between the two countries and established the Columbia River's unique partnership in North American water management.

4. Labor history: In 1986, Oregon became the first state to observe Labor Day by law. The holiday was celebrated for the first time on August 21 of that year. Oregon has had a long history of supporting workers' rights and was the first state in the country to pass minimum wage legislation in 1913.

5. Wildfire disaster: On August 21, 1933, the Tillamook Burn wildfires started in Oregon's Coast Range. The fire destroyed over 300,000 acres and caused $36 million in damage (equivalent to approximately $736 million today). The wildfires were a significant turning point in Oregon's approach to forest management legislation and served as the impetus for the state's long-standing fire suppression policy.