1. In 1830, the first suspension bridge in America was completed in South Carolina. The Charleston-James Island Bridge, now known as the Wappoo Bridge, was a major engineering feat and established the state as one of the leading transportation hubs in the country.

2. On May 28, 1856, Charleston suffered one of the deadliest fires in its history. The Great Fire of Charleston destroyed over 500 buildings and left 7,000 people homeless. The fire was started when a baker's oven got out of control and quickly spread due to strong winds.

3. In 1917, South Carolina became the first state to formally endorse the idea of a national flag for the United States. The state's resolution called for a flag that would be "distinctively American," and the resulting design was adopted by Congress in 1918.

4. On May 28, 1954, Columbia's Richland County Stadium became the first fully racially integrated sports facility in the South. The stadium allowed African Americans to compete and attend games alongside white players and fans, a groundbreaking move during the era of segregation.

5. In 2017, South Carolina was named the best state in the country for military retirees by WalletHub. The state has a long tradition of supporting the military, with multiple military bases and an active community of veterans. The ranking considered factors such as cost of living, quality of health care, and job opportunities for veterans.