1. In 1894, the job of postmaster of the District of Columbia was abolished by the US Congress. This was in response to a scandal involving the then-postmaster being accused of misusing funds.

2. In 1981, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum opened in Washington, DC. The museum houses the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world, and is a popular destination for tourists and school groups.

3. On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act, which established the National Park Service as a bureau within the Department of the Interior. Today, the National Park Service manages 84 million acres of land across the United States, including national parks, monuments, and historic sites.

4. In 1967, racer Parnelli Jones set a new speed record at the Indianapolis 500, covering the race’s 500 laps in just under 3 hours and 22 minutes. Jones went on to win the race the following year, cementing his place as one of the most successful drivers in Indy 500 history.

5. On August 25, 1835, the Washington Navy Yard was destroyed by fire. The fire, which was caused by a carelessly discarded cigar, consumed more than 20 buildings and cost the Navy over $1 million in damages. The navy yard was later rebuilt and is still in use today as the oldest operating naval shipyard in the United States.