1. In 1807, Ohio became the first state to pass a law that prohibited African Americans from immigrating or residing within its borders. The law was repealed in 1849.

2. On August 17, 1859, the first oil well in the United States was drilled in Titusville, Pennsylvania, just over the border from Ohio. The discovery of oil revolutionized the state and led to economic growth and development.

3. In 1893, the Cleveland Electric Railway Company became the first public transportation system in Ohio to run electric streetcars. The new system was faster, quieter, and more efficient than the previous horse-drawn carriages.

4. On August 17, 1915, a massive explosion at an American Steel and Wire Company plant in Cleveland killed 12 workers and injured dozens more. The blast was caused by a spark that ignited a pile of scrap metal and destroyed much of the surrounding neighborhood.

5. In 1970, the Ohio State University campus in Columbus was the site of the largest anti-war protest in state history. Thousands of students gathered to protest the Vietnam War and clashed with police, resulting in dozens of injuries and arrests.