1. In 1775, North Carolina patriots declared their independence from Great Britain at the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, making it the first state to take such action.

2. On May 5, 1836, a devastating tornado struck Fayetteville, North Carolina, killing 26 people and injuring over 100 others.

3. In 1864, Confederate General Robert E. Lee ordered General Jubal Early to invade Maryland and threaten Washington, D.C. This campaign, known as the Maryland Campaign, lasted from July to September and had decisive consequences for the Confederacy.

4. In 1949, North Carolina's first modern shopping mall, Northgate Mall, opened in Durham. Today, it remains one of the state's premier shopping destinations.

5. On May 5, 1977, the Carolina Hurricanes (then the New England Whalers) won their first game in the World Hockey Association (WHA) playoffs, defeating the Cleveland Crusaders 2-0. The Hurricanes would go on to win the WHA championship that year, cementing their place in North Carolina sports history.