1. In 1733, the Georgia colony was founded by James Oglethorpe, making it the last of the thirteen original colonies. February 13 is celebrated as Georgia Day, marking the anniversary of the colony's establishment.

2. On February 13, 1861, the Georgia Secession Convention voted to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy. This decision ultimately led to Georgia's role in the Civil War and its eventual reunification with the United States.

3. In 1877, Henry W. Grady delivered his famous speech "The New South" at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta. Grady, a journalist and orator, emphasized the need for Southern states like Georgia to embrace industrialization and modernization in order to move past the legacy of the Civil War.

4. On February 13, 1900, the Georgia State Capitol caught fire and burned down. The fire started in the dome and quickly spread, destroying the building's interior and causing over $1 million in damages. The Capitol was rebuilt over the next two years in a Beaux-Arts style.

5. In 2018, February 13 marked the start of the Georgia General Assembly's annual legislative session. Representatives and senators convened at the Capitol to begin debating and passing laws on issues such as taxes, education, and transportation.