1. In 1776, the Constitution of Pennsylvania was adopted by the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention, making it the first state constitution in the United States to be written.

2. Pennsylvania's first public zoo, The Philadelphia Zoological Garden, opened its doors on July 8, 1874. It is the oldest zoo in America that is still in operation and offers more than 42 acres of animal habitats for visitors to enjoy.

3. On July 8, 1933, construction began on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which was one of the first major superhighways in the world. It stretches 360 miles across the state and is still used by millions of drivers every year.

4. The Gettysburg Address monument was dedicated in Gettysburg, PA on July 8, 1869. The monument honors Abraham Lincoln's famous speech delivered during the American Civil War, which is considered one of the most iconic speeches in United States history.

5. The largest recorded hailstone in Pennsylvania fell on July 8, 1923 in the town of Potter, which measured 4.5 inches in diameter and weighed over a pound. This is one of the largest hailstones ever recorded in the United States.