1. In 1965, civil rights activist James Reeb died after being attacked by white supremacists in Selma, Alabama. Reeb was one of many white activists who came to Alabama to support the civil rights movement, and his death became a rallying cry for those who fought for racial equality.

2. In 1918, the deadliest train wreck in Alabama's history occurred in Hammondsville, killing more than 100 people. The accident happened when two trains collided head-on, and the resulting explosion and fire caused extensive damage.

3. In 1978, a tornado outbreak swept through central Alabama, causing widespread damage and killing several people. One of the most memorable tornadoes of the outbreak was an F5 twister that struck the community of Smiths Station, leveling homes and businesses.

4. In 1865, two months after the end of the Civil War, Union troops arrived in Mobile, Alabama to take control of the city. The arrival of federal troops signaled the end of the Confederacy's hold on Alabama, and marked the beginning of a long and difficult process of reconstruction.

5. In 1953, the nation's first atomic energy plant opened in Decatur, Alabama. The plant was designed to produce fuel for nuclear submarines, and it played a crucial role in the development of the nation's nuclear arsenal. Today, the site is a Superfund cleanup site, as radioactive contamination from the plant has caused health problems for nearby residents.