1. In 1836, Alabama's statehood was officially recognized by the United States government. Alabama was the 22nd state to enter the Union.

2. On February 24, 1890, the first African American woman to receive a degree from the University of Alabama, Ethel Bolden, was born in Mobile. Bolden went on to become a teacher and community leader in Mobile.

3. In 1942, the Tuskegee Airmen, an all-African American military unit, were activated for active duty. The Tuskegee Airmen were trained at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama and went on to serve with distinction during World War II.

4. On February 24, 1955, a tornado struck the town of Camden, Alabama, killing 20 people and causing significant damage. The tornado was part of a larger outbreak of twisters that hit the southern United States that year.

5. In 1980, Alabama Governor Fob James signed into law a bill that established the Alabama Ethics Commission. The commission was created to oversee the conduct of public officials and employees in the state, and to promote ethical behavior in government.