1. On June 17, 1775, the Battle of Bunker Hill occurred during the American Revolutionary War, and North Carolina soldiers fought alongside other American colonists to defeat the British troops in this pivotal engagement.

2. In 1794, the first gold mining operation in the United States began in North Carolina, near the Reed Gold Mine in Cabarrus County. It was discovered by a 12-year-old boy named Conrad Reed, and his family's discovery led to the start of the state's gold rush.

3. June 17, 1861 marked the start of the Civil War Battle of Petersburg, Virginia, which saw North Carolina soldiers fighting on both sides of the conflict. The engagement lasted for months, and was a key objective for Union forces attempting to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond.

4. On June 17, 1963, Governor Terry Sanford signed the first desegregation bill into law in North Carolina, known as the Pearsall Plan. This legislation allowed for the gradual integration of public schools in the state, and helped pave the way for greater civil rights advancements in the South and across the country.

5. In 1972, Hurricane Agnes made landfall in North Carolina, causing significant damage across the eastern part of the state. The storm was one of the deadliest and costliest of the 20th century, and led to changes in flood control and emergency management policies in North Carolina and beyond.