1. In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill admitting Nevada as the 36th state in the Union, making July 29 the state's official birthday.

2. In 1897, the Nevada State Prison in Carson City was officially opened. The prison housed some of the state's most notorious criminals, including Joseph Bonanno, the founder of the Bonanno crime family.

3. In 1904, the first automobile race was held in Reno. The race covered a distance of 250 miles and was won by Louis Chevrolet, who would go on to co-found Chevrolet Motor Company.

4. In 1955, the Moulin Rouge hotel-casino opened in Las Vegas, becoming the city's first racially integrated casino. The Moulin Rouge was a popular destination for famous performers like Sammy Davis Jr. and Lena Horne.

5. In 1976, the Reno Air Races began, featuring some of the fastest and most skilled pilots in the world competing in various categories. The event attracts thousands of visitors every year and has become a beloved tradition in Nevada.