1. In 1643, the first Swedish settlers arrived in what is now the state of Pennsylvania, landing at Tinicum Island in the Delaware River. They established the colony of New Sweden and introduced several European farming techniques to the area.

2. On October 14, 1777, during the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Germantown took place. The British army had occupied Philadelphia, but General George Washington and his troops tried to retake the city. The battle was ultimately a British victory, but it provided a morale boost for the American troops.

3. In 1913, the Lincoln Highway was formally dedicated, stretching across Pennsylvania and several other states. It was one of the first coast-to-coast highways in the United States and helped to promote automobile travel and tourism.

4. On this day in 1947, Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier in an experimental airplane called the Bell X-1. The flight took place over the Mojave Desert in California, but Yeager was born and raised in Pennsylvania.

5. In 1964, the city of Wilkes-Barre was hit by a major flood after Hurricane Hilda swept through the area. The Susquehanna River overflowed its banks and caused extensive damage to homes and businesses. The flood led to the construction of several flood control projects in the region.