1. On September 13, 1759, during the French and Indian War, British General James Wolfe led his troops to victory over French forces at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, which took place just outside Quebec City. This decisive battle ultimately led to the British capture of Quebec and marked a turning point in the war.

2. In 1788, Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the United States Constitution, after Delaware. This important event took place on September 13, marking Pennsylvania's commitment to the new federal government.

3. On September 13, 1847, famed abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass spoke at the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society's state convention in Harrisburg. His powerful speech called for the immediate abolition of slavery and the full rights and freedoms of African Americans.

4. In 1862, the Battle of South Mountain took place in Maryland, which had significant consequences for Pennsylvania. Confederate forces were stopped from advancing into Pennsylvania, which likely saved important Union cities such as Harrisburg and Philadelphia from capture.

5. On September 13, 1940, construction began on the world-renowned Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Though not directly in Pennsylvania, the Auditorium was designed by architect William B. Thompson, a native of Harrisburg, and is considered one of the finest examples of wooden, open-air Victorian-era architecture in the world.