1. On January 15, 1790, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was chartered. It was the first public university in the United States and is now one of the top universities in the country.

2. In 1865, the Battle of Fort Fisher began on January 15. It was one of the last major battles of the Civil War and the Union victory there helped to cut off Confederate supplies to Wilmington, a key port for the Confederacy.

3. The famous activist and civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Durham, North Carolina on January 15, 1960. He spoke at the White Rock Baptist Church and promoted peaceful protests during the Civil Rights Movement.

4. January 15, 1972, was a significant day for women's rights in North Carolina. The state ratified the Equal Rights Amendment, which guarantees that women have equal rights under the law.

5. On January 15, 2015, North Carolina State University honored their legendary basketball coach, Jim Valvano, by unveiling a statue of him outside of the PNC Arena in Raleigh. Valvano led the Wolfpack to a National Championship in 1983, and his inspirational words "Don't ever give up" continue to inspire people today.