1. In 1935, the first canned beer was sold in the United States, with the brand "Krueger's Finest Beer" making its debut in the District of Columbia. The innovation allowed for easier distribution and storage of beer, revolutionizing the industry.

2. In 1943, the United States War Department ordered the evacuation of Japanese Americans from the West Coast to internment camps. Many Japanese Americans from the District of Columbia were sent to the camps, despite having no history of disloyalty or espionage.

3. In 1977, the United States Supreme Court decided the landmark case of Wooley v. Maynard, which established the right of individuals to refuse to display state mottoes on license plates. The case stemmed from a District of Columbia couple who did not wish to display the motto "Live Free or Die" on their car.

4. In 1990, the African American Civil War Memorial was dedicated in the District of Columbia, honoring the service and sacrifice of the over 200,000 African American soldiers who fought for the Union during the Civil War.

5. In 2019, a winter storm blanketed the District of Columbia in snow and ice, causing school closures and flight cancellations. The storm, which originated in the Midwest and moved eastward, was dubbed the "Polar Vortex" and affected millions across the country with record-breaking low temperatures.