1. In 1770, Tryon Palace was completed in New Bern. This Georgian-style residence was built for North Carolina Royal Governor William Tryon and became the seat of colonial government until the state capital moved to Raleigh in 1794.

2. On August 22, 1799, Thomas Ruffin, an influential jurist and chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, was born in Virginia. He served on the court for over 30 years and is credited with helping to modernize the state's legal system.

3. The Battle of Irving Station took place on August 22, 1864, during the Civil War. Union forces under General Alfred Terry clashed with Confederate troops at the railroad depot in Dunn, North Carolina. Although the Union Army was ultimately victorious, the battle resulted in significant casualties on both sides.

4. In 1971, a series of prison riots began at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh. More than 200 inmates took over the facility and held several hostages. The standoff lasted for several days and resulted in the deaths of three inmates and one guard before order was restored.

5. On August 22, 1978, the North Carolina State University football team suffered a tragic loss when a plane carrying several coaches, players, and boosters crashed on takeoff in Atlanta. The accident claimed the lives of all 13 people on board, including head coach Lou Holtz's wife. The tragedy had a significant impact on the NCSU community, and a memorial sculpture now stands near the site of the crash.