1. Alabama Becomes the 22nd State: On January 5, 1819, Alabama became the 22nd state to join the United States. Its admission marked the growing importance of the growing states of the south.

2. First Mardi Gras Parade in Mobile: January 5, 1830, marked the debut of the first Mardi Gras parade in Mobile, Alabama. The festival, which is now famous for its extravagant colorful floats and costumes, has become a beloved holiday in the city and an important part of Alabama's cultural heritage.

3. Hank Aaron Becomes Baseball's Highest-Paid Player: On January 5, 1973, Alabama-born baseball legend Hank Aaron signed a record-breaking contract, making him the highest-paid player in the history of baseball at the time.

4. Tuskegee Airmen Graduate from Flight Training: On January 5, 1942, the first group of Tuskegee Airmen, an all-African American military unit, graduated from flight training at the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama. These brave men went on to fly over 15,000 missions during WWII, proving that African American pilots were just as capable as their white counterparts.

5. NASA Announces Huntsville, AL as the Site for Space Station Development: On January 5, 1961, NASA announced that Huntsville, Alabama would be the site for the development of the Saturn V rocket and the Apollo space program. Huntsville, which is now known as the Rocket City, played a crucial role in sending humans to the moon and continues to be an important hub for space exploration.