1. In 1919, the town of Winston-Salem hosted a parade to celebrate the return of soldiers from World War I. However, tragedy struck the parade when a streetcar gearbox malfunctioned, causing the car to run out of control and collide with a float of African American veterans. Four people died and several more were injured in the accident. This event highlighted the racial tensions in Winston-Salem at the time, as many people believed the accident could have been avoided if the parade had been better organized.

2. On April 6, 1920, the city of Raleigh installed its first traffic light at the intersection of Fayetteville and Morgan Streets. This was a major milestone in the city's efforts to improve traffic safety, and paved the way for the development of Raleigh's modern transportation system.

3. In 1954, Asheville-native Thomas Wolfe was posthumously awarded the Thomas Jefferson Medal in Literature by the University of Virginia. Wolfe, best known for his novels "Look Homeward, Angel" and "Of Time and the River," was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.

4. On April 6, 1963, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Research Triangle Park in Durham. The park, which was officially opened in 1959, is a major hub for research and development in the fields of science, technology, and engineering.

5. In 2019, the city of Charlotte became the first major city in the United States to host the International Symposium on Airborne Geophysics. The conference brought together experts from around the world to discuss the latest advances in the field of airborne geophysics, which uses advanced sensors to study the earth's magnetic and electric fields. This event highlighted Charlotte's growing reputation as a center for innovation and scientific research.