1. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the dedication speech for the National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, just a few hours' drive from the District of Columbia. The speech is remembered as one of the most famous speeches in American history.

2. In 1929, the first transcontinental air service in the US began at Washington's Washington-Hoover Airport. The service was operated by the newly formed American Airways and flew between New York and California with stops in several cities.

3. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation on TV about the Cuban Missile Crisis. The address was delivered from the Oval Office at the White House, which is located in the District of Columbia.

4. In 2004, the District of Columbia became the first jurisdiction in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage. The law went into effect in March 2010, after a bill was signed by Mayor Adrian Fenty and approved by the DC Council.

5. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused significant damage along the East Coast of the United States, including the District of Columbia. Many streets and public transit systems were closed due to flooding, and several buildings were damaged by fallen trees.