1. In 1905, the city of Raleigh officially opened its new City Hall building on July 15. The building still stands on Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh and now houses several government offices.

2. On July 15, 1912, the Wright Brothers opened the first civilian flying school in the United States near Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The school ran for two years and trained over 100 pilots, including some from foreign countries.

3. The Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic highway that stretches 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, began construction on July 15, 1935. The project took over 50 years to complete and is now a popular tourist attraction.

4. Musician Mitch Easter was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on July 15, 1954. As a producer and guitarist, Easter has worked with several notable musicians, including R.E.M., Pavement, and Suzanne Vega.

5. In 1983, the USS North Carolina battleship memorial opened to the public in Wilmington, North Carolina. The ship, which served in World War II, is now a museum that attracts thousands of visitors each year. On July 15, 2011, the ship welcomed its nine millionth visitor.