1. In 1733, James Edward Oglethorpe and the first Georgia colonists arrived in Savannah on February 23rd. This day marked the founding of the colony of Georgia.

2. On February 23rd, 1819, the Georgia Gold Rush officially began when gold was discovered in the state. This discovery led to a dramatic increase in population and economic growth.

3. In 1945, on February 23rd, the United States Marine Corps raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Many Georgia natives served and fought in this battle.

4. February 23rd, 1870 marked the day when Georgia was readmitted to the Union after Reconstruction. This event officially ended Georgia's status as a Confederate state.

5. On this day in 1956, Georgia native Martin Luther King Jr. was indicted for his role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This event marked the beginning of his prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement.