On February 23, many significant events have occurred in Oregon's history. Here are five interesting facts about this day in Oregon's past:

1. The Oregon Trail was opened for emigrant travel in 1846, leading to the westward expansion of the United States. The trail allowed for thousands of settlers to come and settle in Oregon, eventually leading to its statehood.

2. In 1905, Oregon became the first state to establish a public service commission, which regulated utilities such as gas, electric, and water companies. This paved the way for other states to follow suit in regulating public utilities.

3. In 1945, the Oregon State Board of Higher Education was created, which eventually led to the establishment of Oregon State University and the University of Oregon. Today, both universities are widely regarded as some of the top public universities in the United States.

4. In 1973, Portland State University became the first university in the world to offer a degree in women's studies. This program helped to redefine the role of gender in academic study, and has since been adopted by many other universities around the world.

5. On February 23, 1987, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that public school students could not be forced to attend school if doing so conflicted with their religious beliefs. This landmark ruling helped to establish religious freedom as a fundamental right in the state of Oregon, and has since been used as a template for similar rulings in other states.