1. The first recorded parade in honor of St. Patrick took place in New York City on March 17, 1762, but the festivities surrounding the holiday have been observed on March 14 in some years throughout history.

2. On March 14, 1794, Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin in New York City. The invention revolutionized the cotton industry and was instrumental in the growth of the Southern United States.

3. The first elevator in New York City, installed in a store on Broadway and Broome Street, was put into operation on March 14, 1857. The elevator carried people to the upper floors of the store and was the first step in the development of skyscrapers.

4. On March 14, 1900, the Gold Standard Act was signed into law by President William McKinley. The act made the gold standard the official monetary system of the United States and remained in place until 1933.

5. The first subway line in New York City, the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT), opened on March 14, 1904. The line ran from City Hall to 145th Street and Lenox Avenue and was an instant success, carrying over 150,000 passengers on its first day of operation.