1. In 1610, Henry Hudson entered what is now known as the Hudson River, sailing up to what is now Albany, New York. The Hudson River was named after Henry Hudson, discovering it on August 2, 1609.

2. On August 2, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was first read out loud in New York. This happened in front of the building that housed George Washington's headquarters in Lower Manhattan.

3. In 1858, Aloysius Liskow, a German immigrant, opened the first ice cream parlor in America in New York City. Liskow became a pioneer in the American ice cream industry and started a trend that is still popular today.

4. On August 2, 1915, the first building in the world to have air conditioning was officially opened in New York City. The building was equipped with large fans and cooling coils, which kept the air cool and comfortable inside.

5. In 1983, on August 2, the Long Island Rail Road massacre occurred, killing six people and injuring 19 others. The gunman, Colin Ferguson, opened fire on a crowded train, leading to one of the deadliest mass shootings in New York's history.