1. In 1865, the largest surrender of Confederate troops during the Civil War occurred in South Carolina on February 23. General Joseph E. Johnston and his army surrendered to General William T. Sherman in Durham, North Carolina, effectively ending the war.

2. On February 23, 1870, South Carolina became the first state to ratify the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted African American men the right to vote.

3. A major fire broke out in the infant town of Newberry, South Carolina on February 23, 1893. The blaze destroyed much of the downtown area, including several of the town's historic buildings.

4. On February 23, 1945, a B-24 bomber crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina during a training mission. All 10 crew members were killed in the accident.

5. South Carolina's first Science Festival was launched on February 23, 2013. The event, which takes place annually in March, aims to promote science education and engagement throughout the state.