1. In 1934, the first ever NFL Draft was held in Philadelphia. This event was significant for Alabama as Don Hutson, a native of Pine Bluff, Alabama, was the 9th overall pick by the Green Bay Packers. Hutson went on to have a highly successful career and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

2. On April 28, 1961, the Freedom Rides began. This was a peaceful protest against segregation on interstate buses in the South. A group of both black and white civil rights activists rode buses from Washington D.C. to New Orleans, with the intention of testing the effectiveness of a Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation on interstate bus travel unconstitutional. This was a significant moment in the Civil Rights Movement and had a major impact on Alabama.

3. In 1975, NASA launched the first ever joint US-Soviet space mission. Alabama played a significant role in this as the mission was launched from the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This mission was a major step forward in international cooperation in space exploration and helped to improve relations between the US and the Soviet Union.

4. On April 28, 1999, a deadly tornado outbreak struck Alabama. A total of 11 tornadoes hit the state, causing over $300 million in damages and killing 18 people. This was one of the deadliest and most destructive tornado outbreaks in Alabama history.

5. In 2008, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery was awarded the Tony Award for Regional Theatre. This prestigious award recognizes the outstanding work of a regional theatre company each year. The Alabama Shakespeare Festival is a major cultural institution in the state and has been in operation since 1972.