1. On March 21, 1917, North Carolina native James E. Webb was born. Webb would later become a prominent figure in the United States government, serving as the administrator of NASA during the Apollo program and later as the Undersecretary of State.

2. The Battle of Bentonville, one of the last major engagements of the American Civil War, began on March 19, 1865, and ended on March 21. The battle took place in Johnston County, North Carolina, and was fought between Confederate forces led by General Joseph E. Johnston and Union forces led by General William T. Sherman.

3. On March 21, 1965, civil rights protestors began a five-day march from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, Alabama, to demand voting rights for African Americans. The march, known as Bloody Sunday, saw protestors attacked and beaten by state troopers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The events of Bloody Sunday helped lead to the passage of the Voting Rights Act later that year.

4. In 1989, the North Carolina Tar Heels won the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship on March 21. The Tar Heels defeated the Michigan Wolverines 77-71 in the title game, led by future NBA stars J.R. Reid and Rick Fox.

5. On March 21, 1986, the North Carolina Azalea Festival officially began in Wilmington, North Carolina. The festival, which celebrates the abundance of azaleas in the area, features a range of events including parades, concerts, and garden tours. It is still held annually in April.