1. In 1829, the cornerstone for the original St. Patrick's Cathedral was laid in Manhattan. The cathedral served as the primary Catholic church in New York City until it was destroyed in a fire in 1868.

2. On June 24, 1947, aviator Kenneth Arnold reported seeing a string of nine unidentified flying objects near Mount Rainier in Washington state. This sighting is considered one of the first widely reported UFO sightings in the United States.

3. In 1983, the iconic music video for Michael Jackson's hit song "Beat It" was filmed in the streets of New York City. The video features a confrontational dance battle between rival gangs and has become one of the most famous music videos of all time.

4. On June 24, 1901, famous composer and conductor Richard Strauss made his American debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. He conducted his opera "Feuersnot" to critical acclaim.

5. In 1964, the New York State World's Fair closed after two years of operation. The fair brought millions of visitors to New York City and featured exhibits from countries all around the world, including the iconic Unisphere.