1. In 1584, the first English explorers arrived in present-day North Carolina. The expedition led by Sir Walter Raleigh landed on the North Carolina coast on July 25, and it marked the beginning of the English colonization of what eventually became the state.

2. In 1863, the Battle of Big Bethel was fought on July 25. This Civil War battle was the first major engagement between Union and Confederate forces in the Virginia theater, and it ended in a Confederate victory.

3. In 1897, the town of Seagrove was incorporated on July 25. Located in Randolph County, Seagrove is known for its pottery industry and is home to over 100 pottery studios and shops.

4. In 1946, basketball legend Michael Jordan was born on July 25 in Brooklyn, New York. Jordan's family eventually moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he attended high school and began to develop his basketball skills.

5. In 1984, the U.S. Olympic Festival began in Durham on July 25. The festival featured over 30 different sports and brought together athletes from across the country to compete in a variety of events.