1. On December 21, 1789, North Carolina became the 12th state to ratify the United States Constitution.

2. The oldest university in North Carolina, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was chartered on December 21, 1789.

3. December 21, 1839 marks the birth of Confederate general William Dorsey Pender in Edgecombe County. He was known for his bravery and leadership during the American Civil War.

4. In 1913, the Wright Brothers made their first flight in North Carolina on December 17 at Kill Devil Hills, but their historic achievement was not recognized until December 21, 1948 when the National Park Service authorized the creation of the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

5. On December 21, 1987, the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro opened its doors to the public. The zoo is home to over 1,000 animals representing 250 species and is one of the largest natural habitat zoos in the world.