1. On May 9, 1865, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Union General William T. Sherman at the Bennett Place in Durham, effectively ending the Civil War in North Carolina.

2. North Carolina-born author Thomas Wolfe was born on May 9, 1900, in Asheville. Wolfe's novels, including "Look Homeward, Angel," are known for their detailed depictions of small-town life in the South.

3. On May 9, 1925, a tornado struck the town of La Grange, North Carolina, killing 17 people and destroying dozens of buildings. It remains one of the deadliest tornadoes in state history.

4. May 9, 1986, marked the opening of Carowinds Amusement Park in Charlotte. The park, which straddles the North Carolina-South Carolina border, features a variety of roller coasters and other thrill rides.

5. On May 9, 2012, voters in North Carolina approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The amendment was later overturned by a federal court ruling in 2014.