1. In 1866, the National Institution for the Promotion of Science held its first annual meeting in Washington, DC. The purpose of the institution was to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and discoveries among scientists, and to promote better communication between scientists and the public.

2. In 1898, the Treaty of Paris was signed in Washington, DC, ending the Spanish-American War. The treaty established Cuba as an independent nation, ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States, and sold the Philippines to the US for $20 million.

3. In 1924, the Democratic National Convention was held in Washington, DC. The convention nominated John W. Davis as the party's presidential candidate, but he was defeated in the general election by Republican incumbent Calvin Coolidge.

4. In 1955, the Washington Nationals played their first game at Griffith Stadium. The Nationals, who later became the Minnesota Twins, defeated the New York Yankees 5-3 in front of a crowd of 28,325 fans.

5. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law at a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. The act prohibited discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications.