1. The District of Columbia was established on July 2, 1790, as the federal district of the United States. The site was selected by President George Washington, who wanted a location that was central to the colonies and free of state control.

2. On July 2, 1836, the Patent Office building in Washington, D.C., caught fire, destroying thousands of patents and models. Despite the devastation, the Patent Office managed to rebuild and continued to grant patents to inventors.

3. On July 2, 1863, the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Union forces under General George Meade successfully defended against Confederate General Robert E. Lee's assault on the Union's left flank. The battle was a turning point in the American Civil War.

4. The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., officially opened its doors to the public on July 2, 1985. The museum, housed in an ornate brick-and-terra-cotta building originally built as the Pension Bureau, features exhibits on architecture, design, and engineering.

5. The District of Columbia celebrated its bicentennial on July 2, 1990, with a series of events that included a parade, fireworks, and live music performances. The festivities also included the unveiling of a bronze statue of Frederick Douglass, a prominent abolitionist and civil rights leader who lived in Washington, D.C.