1. In 1855, the Washington, D.C. City Council passed an ordinance authorizing the construction of street railway tracks on Pennsylvania Avenue, marking the beginning of horse-drawn streetcar service in the city.

2. On March 24, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln arrived in Washington, D.C. just days before his second inauguration ceremony. He delivered his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, and was reelected as President.

3. In 1874, the District of Columbia became the first place in the United States to establish a police force composed entirely of African American officers. This force was known as the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia.

4. On March 24, 1912, the first Cherry Blossom Festival was held in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees from the city of Tokyo. The festival has since become an annual event and draws millions of visitors to the city each spring.

5. On March 24, 1958, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in the case of Cooper v. Aaron, affirming the principle of judicial review and the power of the federal courts to strike down state laws that violate the U.S. Constitution. The case arose from efforts by Arkansas officials to resist the integration of public schools in the wake of the court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education.