1. In 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was ratified, officially ending the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. The treaty was signed on December 24, 1814, but it took several months to ratify and make its way across the Atlantic Ocean to New York.

2. On April 11, 1888, a severe blizzard hit New York City and the surrounding area, dumping over a foot of snow in some places. The storm caused widespread transportation problems, with trains and streetcars unable to run, and many businesses and schools closed for several days.

3. The first-ever NBA draft was held on April 11, 1950, at the New Yorker Hotel in New York City. The draft consisted of 12 rounds and was attended by representatives from all 11 NBA teams at the time. The first pick in the draft was made by the Boston Celtics, who selected Chuck Share, a center from Bowling Green.

4. On April 11, 1970, Apollo 13 was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the goal of landing on the moon. However, just two days into the mission, an explosion on board the spacecraft caused a critical failure that jeopardized the lives of the three astronauts on board. The crew was able to safely return to Earth six days later, thanks to the heroic efforts of NASA engineers and technicians.

5. The Brooklyn Dodgers played their first game at Ebbets Field on April 11, 1913. The Dodgers had previously played at Washington Park, but that facility was deemed inadequate, and team owner Charles Ebbets decided to build a new stadium in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. The iconic ballpark remained the home of the Dodgers until they moved to Los Angeles in 1958.