1. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. This decision ultimately led to the American Civil War.

2. In 1865, on the exact same date, Savannah was captured by Union forces during the Civil War. This event signaled the end of General Sherman’s famous “March to the Sea” campaign.

3. On December 20, 1956, the South Carolina State House was designated a National Historic Landmark. It is the only State House in the United States that has this distinction.

4. In 1983, South Carolina was hit by a massive snowstorm on December 20th. Over a foot of snow fell in some areas, causing widespread power outages and travel disruptions.

5. On December 20, 2002, South Carolina football coach Lou Holtz announced his retirement from coaching. Holtz had led the Gamecocks to bowl games in each of his first three seasons, and remains one of the most respected coaches in college football history.