1. In 1816, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill held its first commencement ceremony. Six bachelor degrees were awarded to students who had completed their studies.

2. On May 11, 1862, during the American Civil War, Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee defeated Union forces in the Battle of Fort Macon. The battle took place in Carteret County near the town of Beaufort.

3. In 1934, North Carolina opened the first state-owned and operated art museum in the United States. The North Carolina Museum of Art was founded with a collection of just 139 paintings and sculptures, but it has since grown to become one of the premiere art museums in the Southeast.

4. On May 11, 1965, the city of Winston-Salem officially opened its newly constructed Benton Convention Center. The $3.5 million facility was named in honor of Joel L. Benton, a prominent businessman and civic leader in the area.

5. In 1996, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt won the Winston Select at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The victory was Earnhardt's third win in the all-star race, and he remains the only driver to have won the event three times in a row.