1. In 1965, the Watts riots in Los Angeles came to a close after six days of violent protests following the arrest of a black motorist. Washington, along with other cities, felt the effects of the unrest as well, with several riots occurring in various neighborhoods across the city.

2. Washington's baseball team, the Senators, played a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers on August 26, 1937. Future Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg hit a home run in the second game, leading the Tigers to a 5-4 victory.

3. On August 26, 1789, a resolution was introduced in the newly-formed U.S. Congress requesting that the President of the United States establish a day of public prayer and thanksgiving. President George Washington, the city's namesake, issued a proclamation setting aside November 26, 1789 as the first Thanksgiving Day under the new Constitution.

4. In 1971, over 50,000 people gathered on the National Mall for the country's first mass mobilization against the Vietnam War. The demonstration, known as the "Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam," featured speeches from several high-profile anti-war activists, including Benjamin Spock and Coretta Scott King.

5. August 26, 1966, marked the opening of the Smithsonian's Museum of History and Technology (now known as the National Museum of American History). The museum's collection features a wide variety of exhibits and artifacts related to American history, including the original Star-Spangled Banner flag and the First Ladies' Inaugural Gowns display.