1. On May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg disaster occurred in New Jersey, killing 36 people, including a resident of Portland, Oregon. The incident marked the end of the era of airship travel.

2. May 6, 1862, marked the beginning of the Civil War in Oregon when volunteers from the state formed the First Oregon Cavalry and left for California to defend against a potential Confederate invasion.

3. In 1998, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex domestic partnerships, making Oregon the second state to legally recognize same-sex relationships.

4. May 6, 1985, saw the opening of the first MAX light rail line in Portland, providing a convenient and environmentally friendly form of public transportation for the city.

5. The Rogue River War, a conflict between the US Army and Native American tribes in Southern Oregon, began on May 6, 1855, and lasted for nearly two years until a treaty was signed in 1856. The war led to the forced removal of many Native Americans from their ancestral lands.