1. On April 13, 1926, the state of North Carolina approved the building of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This scenic highway was designed to meander along the Appalachian Mountains, providing breathtaking views and connecting several national parks.

2. In 1973, the North Carolina General Assembly designated April 13 as "William B. Umstead Day" in honor of the former governor who served from 1953 to 1954. Umstead was instrumental in creating the state park system and expanding educational opportunities for North Carolinians.

3. On April 13, 1865, just two days after Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Union troops under General William T. Sherman occupied Raleigh, the state capital. This marked the end of the Civil War in North Carolina.

4. In 1943, Elisha Mitchell was posthumously honored with a statue on the University of North Carolina campus on April 13, the anniversary of his death. Mitchell was a geologist and surveyor who discovered that Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the eastern United States, was indeed the highest point east of the Mississippi River.

5. On April 13, 1991, the North Carolina Tar Heels won the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship by defeating the University of Kansas 72-65. This marked the third national championship for legendary coach Dean Smith, who led the Tar Heels to victory over opponents including Duke, Michigan, and UNLV during the tournament.