1. Maryland Became a State: July 1, 1776 marks the day that Maryland officially became a state of the United States of America. Maryland was the seventh state to join the Union.

2. Battle of Monocacy: On July 1, 1864, the Battle of Monocacy took place in Frederick County, Maryland. This Civil War battle was fought between Confederate General Jubal Early's troops and Union General Lew Wallace's troops. The Union forces were eventually defeated, but the battle delayed Early's advance on Washington D.C.

3. Maryland Passed a Same-Sex Marriage Bill: On July 1, 2012, Maryland became one of the first states to pass a same-sex marriage bill through the legislature. The bill was signed into law by Governor Martin O'Malley.

4. Jim Palmer’s Debut: July 1, 1965 was the day that future Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer made his major league debut. He went on to have a long and successful career with the Orioles, winning three Cy Young Awards and leading the team to three World Series championships.

5. Postal Service Established: On July 1, 1775, Ben Franklin became the first Postmaster General of the United States, establishing the postal service in America. This is significant to Maryland history since Benjamin Franklin lived in Maryland for a time and was instrumental in establishing the post office in the state.