1. In 1821, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company was established in the District of Columbia. The company was responsible for building and operating a canal that would connect Washington, D.C. to the Ohio River.

2. In 1865, the Washington National Cemetery was established on July 21. This cemetery is the final resting place for many notable figures in American history, including former Presidents William Howard Taft and John F. Kennedy.

3. On July 21, 1917, the National Woman's Party began picketing the White House in support of women's suffrage. This protest continued for several months and resulted in the arrest and imprisonment of many suffragists.

4. The District of Columbia National Guard was federalized on July 21, 1942, after the United States entered World War II. DC National Guard troops have served in every major conflict since the War of 1812.

5. On July 21, 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts held a ticker-tape parade in the District of Columbia to celebrate their historic moon landing. The parade route passed through downtown DC and ended with a ceremony in front of the White House.