1. On March 20, 1854, the Republican Party held its first convention in Ripon, Wisconsin, leading to the eventual election of President Abraham Lincoln in 1860. This event marked a shift towards a more anti-slavery stance in American politics.

2. In 1952, the first self-contained artificial heart was successfully implanted in a dog by Dr. Charles Hufnagel at New York University Medical Center.

3. March 20, 1985, marked the opening of the first Borders bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company would eventually grow to become one of the largest booksellers in America before going out of business in 2011.

4. On March 20, 1933, the New York Giants baseball team played their first game in their newly constructed home field, the Polo Grounds, located in Upper Manhattan. The stadium would serve as the Giants' home field for the next three decades.

5. The New York International Auto Show, one of the largest auto shows in North America, typically opens on or around March 20 each year. The event showcases the latest in automotive technology and design and draws visitors from around the world.