1. On September 15, 1788, North Carolina became the twelfth state to ratify the United States Constitution. After initially rejecting the document due to concerns about individual liberties, the state finally agreed to join the federal government with a vote of 194 to 77.

2. The Battle of New Bern took place on September 15, 1862, during the American Civil War. Confederate troops led by General Ambrose Burnside attacked the city of New Bern, which was occupied by Union forces under General John G. Foster. After a day of fighting, the Confederates were forced to retreat, giving the Union control of eastern North Carolina.

3. In 1908, the Wright Brothers conducted their first successful flights in North Carolina's Outer Banks. On September 15 of that year, Wilbur Wright piloted the Wright Flyer III for a record-breaking flight of 1 hour and 31 minutes, covering a distance of 41.9 miles.

4. On September 15, 1954, the town of Hillsborough, NC, became the first municipality in the United States to pass an ordinance prohibiting racial segregation in public places. The ordinance was enacted in response to a sit-in protest by African American students at a local drugstore.

5. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences opened its doors to the public on September 15, 1999. Located in downtown Raleigh, the museum is the largest natural history museum in the southeastern United States and features diverse exhibits, educational programs, and research opportunities.