1. The Brooklyn Bridge opened on December 23, 1879, after 14 years of construction. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time and connected Manhattan and Brooklyn, revolutionizing transportation between the two boroughs.

2. On December 23, 1913, the Federal Reserve Act was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson. The act created the Federal Reserve System, a central banking system that is still in place today and plays a crucial role in the U.S. economy.

3. The first photograph of Earth from space was taken on December 23, 1968, by the crew of the Apollo 8 mission. The mission was the first to orbit the moon and was a major milestone in the Space Race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

4. In 1995, a four-alarm fire broke out at the historic St. George Hotel in Brooklyn on December 23, causing extensive damage to the landmark building. The hotel was built in 1885 and had hosted famous figures such as Babe Ruth and Winston Churchill.

5. New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning broke the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a single season on December 23, 2007, with his 48th touchdown pass of the year. The Giants went on to win the Super Bowl that season.