1. On July 29, 1868, Governor W. H. Smith was inaugurated as Alabama's 23rd governor. He had previously served as a Confederate general and was instrumental in the state's post-Civil War reconstruction efforts.

2. The Tuscaloosa chapter of the NAACP was founded on July 29, 1914. This organization worked to secure civil rights for African Americans in Alabama, including voting rights and an end to segregation.

3. On July 29, 1932, a massive demonstration in Birmingham known as the "Hunger March" culminated in a clash between protesters and police. The march was organized by unemployed workers who demanded government relief and jobs during the Great Depression.

4. In 1965, on July 29th, the Voting Rights Act was signed into law. This landmark legislation prohibited discrimination based on race in voting, and ended practices such as poll taxes and literacy tests that had historically disenfranchised African American voters.

5. On July 29, 1998, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute opened its doors. This museum and research center honors the legacy of the civil rights movement and its leaders, and features exhibits on topics such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Freedom Rides, and the Birmingham Campaign.