1. In 1812, the War of 1812 officially began between the United States and Great Britain. The conflict would last until 1815 and had significant impacts on the development of the nation, including the burning of much of Washington D.C. by British forces in 1814.

2. On June 18, 1873, Susan B. Anthony was fined $100 for attempting to vote in the presidential election of 1872. Anthony, a women's rights activist, was charged with the crime of "unlawful voting" and refused to pay the fine, sparking a national debate over women's suffrage.

3. The National Zoological Park, located in the heart of Washington D.C., officially opened its doors on June 18, 1889. The zoo is home to thousands of animals from around the world, including giant pandas, Asian elephants, and western lowland gorillas.

4. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order establishing the Office of War Information (OWI) in Washington D.C. The OWI was responsible for producing and disseminating propaganda to American citizens and international audiences during World War II.

5. June 18, 1971, marked the start of the Plumbers' break-in at the Watergate complex in Washington D.C. The break-in was part of a larger political scandal that would eventually lead to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974.