1. Columbus Day: October 4th is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, including the District of Columbia. This national holiday commemorates Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. In the District, Columbus Day is observed as a federal holiday, with government offices and many businesses closed.

2. 1957 Civil Rights Protests: On October 4, 1957, a group of African American high school students in D.C. staged a sit-in at a segregated restaurant in a downtown department store. The protest was one of the first of the Civil Rights Movement, and it helped set the stage for future efforts to challenge segregation and discrimination.

3. Start of the Government Shutdown: On October 4, 2013, the federal government shut down due to a budget crisis. Many government offices in D.C. closed, with thousands of federal workers furloughed or forced to work without pay. The shutdown lasted for 16 days, making it one of the longest in U.S. history.

4. Washington Monument Reopening: In 2019, the Washington Monument reopened on October 4th after being closed for nearly three years for repairs. The iconic landmark had been damaged in a 2011 earthquake, and the repairs required extensive scaffolding and engineering work. The monument is now open for visitors to climb to the top and enjoy panoramic views of the city.

5. DC Statehood Vote: On October 4, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve a bill that would grant statehood to the District of Columbia. The bill, which was the first time the House had voted on D.C. statehood in more than 25 years, would make D.C. the 51st state in the U.S. However, the bill has not yet been taken up by the Senate and faces an uncertain future.