1. On May 26, 1928, aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh landed his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, at the Charlotte Municipal Airport, greeted by a crowd of more than 25,000 people. Lindbergh's visit was part of a tour promoting aviation and the airline industry.

2. The North Carolina Museum of Art officially opened its doors on May 26, 1956 in Raleigh. The museum is home to a vast collection of works from around the world, ranging from ancient artifacts to contemporary art.

3. Charlotte native Billy Graham preached his first sermon on May 26, 1935 at a Bible club meeting in Florida. Graham, who would go on to become one of the most influential preachers of the 20th century, grew up in Charlotte and attended Bob Jones College in South Carolina before beginning his ministry.

4. On May 26, 1836, the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Removal Act, which authorized the forced removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States. This led to the forced relocation of thousands of Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, and other tribes to Indian Territory, in what is now Oklahoma.

5. May 26, 1924 marks the birth of Thelonious Monk, one of the most innovative and influential jazz pianists and composers of the 20th century. Monk grew up in New York and began playing piano at a young age, eventually developing a unique style that blended bebop, swing, and other genres. Monk's compositions include such classics as "Round Midnight" and "Straight, No Chaser."