1. On October 7, 1765, the Stamp Act Congress met in New York City to protest against the British Parliament's stamp tax. This was a pivotal moment in the lead-up to the American Revolution, and marked the first time that colonies had come together to resist British taxation.

2. The cornerstone of the New York City Hall was laid on October 7, 1803. The building, which was designed by architect Joseph-Francois Mangin, has played an important role in the city's government and history, hosting everything from a new mayor's inauguration to Abraham Lincoln's funeral procession.

3. On October 7, 1868, financier and railroad promoter William H. Vanderbilt set a record for the fastest steam-powered train journey between New York City and Chicago. His train, the New York Central "Lightning Express," completed the trip in just under 20 hours, at an average speed of over 60 miles per hour.

4. October 7, 1916 saw the opening of the first underground train line in New York City, the IRT Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line. Today, the line is part of the city's subway system and serves millions of commuters every day.

5. On this date in 1949, the world-famous Yankee Stadium hosted its first ever NFL game, as the New York Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 7-0. This marked the beginning of a new era for the stadium, which had previously been home to the New York Yankees and had hosted numerous historic baseball games.