1. In 1861, the state of Alabama became the fourth state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy during the Civil War.

2. In 1951, Redstone Arsenal was established near Huntsville, Alabama as a key U.S. Army missile testing and development facility. Today, it remains an important part of the state's aerospace industry.

3. On February 13, 1900, the famous African American scholar and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois delivered a speech at Talladega College in Alabama. He spoke about the importance of education and racial equality, topics that would become central to his life's work.

4. In 1933, the state of Alabama officially ratified the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which repealed Prohibition and allowed for the sale and consumption of alcohol once again.

5. On February 13, 2000, a major tornado outbreak devastated parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. This event became known as the "Valentine's Day Tornado Outbreak" because it continued into February 14, causing widespread damage and many deaths.