1. May 17, 1792: The Bank of Washington is chartered by an Act of Congress. The bank was one of the first banks in the District of Columbia and was established to provide financial services to the newly formed government.

2. May 17, 1862: The U.S. Congress passes the Homestead Act, which provided 160 acres of land to settlers who agreed to live on and improve the land. This law encouraged settlement and development throughout the western United States.

3. May 17, 1954: The Supreme Court issues its landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The decision was a major step forward for civil rights and paved the way for the desegregation of schools across the country.

4. May 17, 1972: The Watergate scandal begins when police apprehend five burglars breaking into the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate complex in DC. The scandal led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon and is considered one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history.

5. May 17, 1985: A rally is held in DC to protest the South African apartheid system. The rally was attended by tens of thousands of people who demanded that the U.S. government impose sanctions on South Africa until the apartheid system was dismantled. The rally was one of many that helped to bring international attention to the issue and contributed to the eventual end of apartheid.