1. Nevada became a state on January 20, 1864, during the American Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Nevada Statehood Proclamation and Nevada became the 36th state in the Union.

2. On January 20, 1931, the Nevada state legislature legalized gambling in the state, paving the way for the development of the casino industry that would come to define Las Vegas.

3. Las Vegas also played host to the first-ever World Series of Poker tournament, which began on January 20, 1970. The event was organized by Benny Binion, the owner of the Horseshoe Casino, and has since grown into the largest and most prestigious poker tournament in the world.

4. January 20 marks the anniversary of Nevada's worst aviation disaster. In 1961, a United Airlines DC-8 crashed into a mountain near Elko, killing all 85 passengers and crew members on board.

5. On January 20, 2001, Nevada senator Harry Reid was inaugurated into his first term as Senate Majority Whip. Reid would go on to serve as the Senate Majority Leader from 2007 to 2015, making him one of the most powerful politicians in the United States.