1. On August 27, 1776, British troops under General William Howe overwhelmed American forces led by General George Washington in the Battle of Brooklyn, one of the largest battles of the Revolutionary War. The defeat forced Washington to retreat to Manhattan and marked a low point in the war for the Continental Army.

2. On August 27, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the most iconic landmarks in New York City, opened to the public after 14 years of construction. The bridge spans the East River, connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan, and was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time.

3. On August 27, 1910, Alice Huyler Ramsey became the first woman to drive across the United States, traveling from New York to San Francisco in a 1909 Maxwell Model DA. Her journey took 59 days and included many challenges, such as rough roads and breakdowns.

4. On August 27, 1979, Yankees catcher Thurman Munson died in a plane crash while practicing takeoffs and landings in his Cessna Citation at Akron-Canton Airport in Ohio. Munson was a beloved player for the Yankees and had helped the team win three World Series championships.

5. On August 27, 2011, Hurricane Irene made landfall in New York City, causing significant damage and flooding throughout the city and the surrounding areas. Many neighborhoods, particularly in Queens and Brooklyn, were without power for days, and thousands of residents were forced to evacuate their homes.