1. On July 17, 1862, the United States Congress passed the Homestead Act, which encouraged settlers to move west and claim land in Nevada and other western states. This law granted 160 acres to any person who agreed to cultivate the land for five years.

2. In 1916, a devastating wildfire broke out in the Sierra Nevada range near Lake Tahoe. Known as the Tragedy fire, it burned over 48,000 acres and destroyed several towns and villages. The disaster spurred the creation of the U.S. Forest Service, which has played a critical role in managing and preventing wildfires in Nevada and across the country.

3. On July 17, 1931, the Nevada state legislature legalized gambling, paving the way for the creation of the state's now-famous casino industry. Today, Nevada is home to over 300 casinos, generating billions of dollars in revenue each year.

4. In 1962, the United States conducted a series of nuclear weapons tests in Nevada, known as Operation Sunbeam. The tests included several high-altitude detonations, which produced stunning, multicolored clouds visible for miles around.

5. On July 17, 2018, Tesla unveiled its new Gigafactory 1 in Sparks, Nevada. The massive facility covers over 1.9 million square feet and houses the company's battery and powertrain production, research and development, and vehicle manufacturing operations. The factory is a key part of Tesla's ambitious plan to revolutionize the automotive and clean energy industries.