1. On July 2, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the most significant battles of the American Civil War, took place. Union forces led by General George G. Meade defeated Confederate forces led by General Robert E. Lee, marking a turning point in the war.

2. In 1937, aviator Amelia Earhart disappeared while attempting to circumnavigate the globe with her navigator, Fred Noonan. On July 2 of that year, the pair made their final radio transmission from somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. Their fate remains a mystery to this day.

3. On July 2, 1971, the Spacecraft Radio Science Experiment (SRSE) was conducted by NASA's Mariner 9 spacecraft. The experiment successfully measured the atmosphere, temperature, and gravity of Mars, helping to further our understanding of the red planet.

4. The state of Washington was officially admitted to the United States on November 11, 1889. However, on July 2 of that same year, President Benjamin Harrison signed the Enabling Act, which allowed the people of the Washington Territory to draft a constitution and apply for statehood.

5. In 1992, a major earthquake struck the Puget Sound area of Washington state, measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale. While the quake caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, no fatalities were reported. The event served as a reminder of the region's potential earthquake risk.