1. In 1850, the town of Salem was officially incorporated as the capital of Oregon. It remains the state capital to this day.

2. In 1913, construction began on Portland's iconic Steel Bridge over the Willamette River. It was completed the following year and remains an important transportation hub for the city.

3. In 1924, The Oregonian newspaper reported on a bizarre sighting of a giant "sea serpent" off the coast of Newport. The article sparked widespread fascination and speculation about the creature.

4. In 1975, the Oregon State University men's basketball team won the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), defeating the University of Alabama in the championship game.

5. In 2015, Governor Kate Brown signed a law making Oregon the first state to require employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees. The law went into effect on January 1, 2016.