1. In 1842, a massive fire broke out in New York City that destroyed thousands of buildings and left over a thousand people homeless. Known as the Great Fire of New York, it started on March 19 and raged for over 24 hours, burning a large portion of the Lower East Side.

2. On March 19, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire occurred in New York City. The fire killed 146 workers, mostly young women, and led to significant changes in labor laws and workplace safety regulations.

3. In 1931, the New York State Legislature approved construction of the George Washington Bridge. The bridge, which connects New York City to New Jersey, opened in 1937 and is now one of the busiest bridges in the world.

4. On this day in 1966, Francis Albert Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped from his hotel room in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. After a harrowing ordeal, he was released unharmed a few days later, but the kidnappers were never caught.

5. In 1982, the first Gay Games were held in San Francisco, California. The event, which was created by former Olympic athlete Tom Waddell, aimed to provide a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQ athletes to showcase their skills. The third Gay Games were held in New York City in 1994, marking the first time the event was held outside of San Francisco.