1. North Carolina declared its independence on March 4, 1776 – On March 4, 1776, the North Carolina Provincial Congress met in Halifax and unanimously adopted the Halifax Resolves, which were a set of resolutions that called for independence from Great Britain. This made North Carolina the first state to call for independence from Great Britain, paving the way for other colonies to follow suit.

2. March 4 became North Carolina’s Statehood Day in 1931 – March 4, 1789 was the day that the United States Constitution officially came into effect, and it was also the day that North Carolina became the 12th state to join the Union. In 1931, the North Carolina General Assembly designated March 4 as Statehood Day to commemorate this important milestone in the state’s history.

3. The Wright brothers made their first powered flight in North Carolina on March 4, 1903 – Although the Wright brothers were from Ohio, they chose Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina as the site of their first powered flight. On March 4, 1903, Orville Wright piloted the Wright Flyer for 12 seconds, covering a distance of 120 feet. This historic flight paved the way for modern aviation.

4. Charlotte hosted its first stock car race on March 4, 1949 – On March 4, 1949, Charlotte’s new 3/4 mile speedway hosted its first stock car race. The event was sanctioned by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), and it marked the beginning of a long relationship between Charlotte and NASCAR. Today, Charlotte is known as the “home of NASCAR.”

5. North Carolina A&T State University staged a sit-in protest on March 4, 1960 – On March 4, 1960, a group of four college students from North Carolina A&T State University staged a sit-in protest at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. This protest sparked a wave of sit-ins and other nonviolent protests throughout the country, and it played a significant role in the civil rights movement. Today, the site of the protest is home to the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.