1. On October 13, 1775, Colonel Richard Caswell led American forces to victory against the British in the Battle of Alamance, which was one of the early skirmishes in the American Revolution.

2. In 1819, North Carolina became the first state in the United States to establish a state-supported school for the deaf and blind, which was known as the North Carolina Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind.

3. On October 13, 1883, the first steam-operated electric power plant in the United States was opened in Greensboro, North Carolina. The plant generated over 15,000 volts of electricity, which was distributed to local residents and businesses.

4. In 1926, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill adopted the Tar Heels as its official nickname and mascot. The nickname was a nod to the state's history as a major producer of tar from its vast forests.

5. On October 13, 1999, Hurricane Irene hit the coast of North Carolina, causing widespread damage and flooding. The storm caused over $1 billion in damages and claimed the lives of six people.