1. On December 29, 1845, the state of Alabama officially adopted its state flag, which prominently features a crimson St. Andrew's cross on a white field. The cross symbolizes Alabama's ties to the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

2. In 1934, the Alabama Gas Corporation opened its first underground natural gas storage field near Citronelle, Alabama. Today, the company provides natural gas service to more than 400,000 customers throughout the state.

3. On December 29, 1952, Mobile native Hank Aaron signed his first professional baseball contract with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League. Aaron would later become one of the most iconic players in the history of Major League Baseball, breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record in 1974.

4. In 1972, the Birmingham Police Department arrested five members of the KKK on charges of bombing the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, killing four young girls. The tragic event is often cited as a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.

5. On December 29, 2017, the University of Alabama football team won its 17th National Championship by defeating the University of Georgia in the College Football Playoff National Championship game. The Alabama Crimson Tide is widely considered one of the most successful college football programs in history.