1. The first statewide election was held on July 8, 1851, in Oregon. Voters chose their first governor, Joseph Lane, and other state officials. At the time, Oregon was not yet a state, but a territory of the United States.

2. Crater Lake National Park was established on July 8, 1902, by President Theodore Roosevelt. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States, and one of the clearest and purest in the world.

3. On July 8, 1937, construction of the Bonneville Dam was completed on the Columbia River, near Cascade Locks. The dam provided hydroelectric power and irrigation water for the region, and was a major accomplishment of the New Deal era.

4. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival was founded on July 8, 1935, in Ashland, Oregon. The festival has since become one of the largest and most prestigious in the country, performing works by Shakespeare and other playwrights every summer.

5. The Portland Trail Blazers won their only NBA championship on July 8, 1977, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in six games. The Blazers were led by Bill Walton, who was named the Finals MVP, and cemented their place in Oregon sports history with the victory.