1. In 1865, the Battle of Fort Fisher took place in Wilmington, North Carolina, during the American Civil War. Many soldiers fighting in the battle were from the District of Columbia.

2. On January 17, 1893, the Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii was overthrown by a group of American businessmen supported by the United States military. Many Washingtonians were involved in the political machinations that led to the overthrow.

3. In 1929, the Smithsonian Institution opened the United States National Museum Building on the National Mall. The museum is now known as the National Museum of Natural History and is one of the most visited museums in the world.

4. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy held the first live news conference to be broadcast on television. The conference was held in the State Department Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

5. On January 17, 1991, the Gulf War began with a U.S.-led coalition launching air strikes against Iraq. Many D.C. residents were deployed to the region as part of the military effort.