1. May 8, 1790: The first real estate transaction in the new US capital. Land speculation played a significant role in the early development of Washington, D.C., and on May 8, 1790, the first land transaction occurred in the new federal city. Thomas Beall sold Pierre L'Enfant three lots on the future site of the Capitol for a total of $25,000.

2. May 8, 1886: The Haymarket Riot trial. In 1886, a bomb exploded at a labor rally in Haymarket Square in Chicago, killing several police officers. Eight anarchist leaders were arrested and put on trial, with seven sentenced to death. The trial became a cause célèbre for the American labor movement and inspired May Day as a labor holiday.

3. May 8, 1904: The opening of Union Station. One of the most iconic buildings in Washington, D.C., Union Station opened on May 8, 1904. Designed by renowned architect Daniel Burnham, the terminal building at Union Station is known for its grand Beaux-Arts style and distinctive clock tower.

4. May 8, 1942: The Battle of the Coral Sea. During World War II, the Battle of the Coral Sea took place on May 4-8, 1942, between Japanese and Allied naval forces. It was the first naval battle in history where aircraft carriers engaged each other, and it marked a turning point in the Pacific Theater of the war.

5. May 8, 1970: The Vietnam War protests. On May 8, 1970, protests against the Vietnam War erupted on college campuses across the United States, including at Kent State University, where Ohio National Guardsmen opened fire on unarmed students, killing four and injuring nine. The incident sparked national outrage and led to a nationwide student strike.