1. In 1788, the New York Ratifying Convention ratified the United States Constitution in Poughkeepsie, making New York the eleventh state to join the newly-formed nation.

2. In 1926, the famous Harlem Globetrotters basketball team played their first ever game at the Savoy Ballroom in New York City.

3. In 1947, Jackie Robinson, the first African American baseball player in the major leagues, visited New York City for the first time as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

4. In 1953, the first transatlantic telephone cable was completed, connecting New York City and London. This allowed for much faster and more reliable communication between the two cities.

5. In 1971, the World Trade Center complex in lower Manhattan was officially opened. The complex consisted of two towers, each over 100 stories tall, and quickly became an iconic symbol of the city. Unfortunately, the buildings were destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.