1. In 1815, Washington D.C. experienced the largest snowfall on record for January 4th with over 18 inches of snow.

2. On January 4, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all slaves in Confederate territory were to be set free.

3. In 1896, the city of Tacoma, Washington was completely destroyed by a massive fire on January 4th. The disaster caused more than $5 million in damages and nearly 10,000 people were left homeless.

4. On January 4, 1905, the Washington State Capitol Building opened its doors to the public for the first time. The building has since become an iconic symbol of the state's political and cultural history.

5. In 1933, Washington D.C. was rocked by a major earthquake on January 4th, measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale. The quake caused significant damage to many buildings in the city, including the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral.