1. In 1796, the first elephant arrived in New York City. Her name was Old Bet, and she became a sensation, drawing crowds to see her performances.

2. In 1864, during the Civil War, a group of Confederate agents attempted to set fire to New York City. The plot, known as the "Great New York City Fire," was foiled by Union soldiers.

3. In 1923, jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie was born in Cheraw, South Carolina. Gillespie would go on to become one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century and a pioneer of bebop.

4. In 1962, the very first Walmart store opened in Rogers, Arkansas. Today, Walmart is the largest company in the world by revenue, with over 11,500 stores worldwide.

5. In 2011, Norwegian extremist Anders Behring Breivik carried out a mass shooting and bombing in Norway that killed 77 people. The attack sparked global conversations about the rise of far-right extremism and the need for tighter anti-terrorism measures.