1. In 1803, Ohio became the 17th state to join the United States, achieving statehood on May 15. At the time, Ohio's population was roughly 45,000 people.

2. On May 15, 1856, the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College (now known as The Ohio State University) was founded through the Morrill Land-Grant Acts. Today, Ohio State is one of the largest universities in the country, with an enrollment of over 66,000 students.

3. In 1918, a devastating tornado swept through the town of Bolivar, Ohio, killing 92 people and destroying over 500 homes. The tornado, which struck on May 15, remains one of the deadliest in Ohio history.

4. May 15, 1959, marked the grand opening of Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Today, Cedar Point remains one of the most popular and well-known amusement parks in the country, attracting millions of visitors each year.

5. On May 15, 1988, James Traficant, Jr., a former sheriff and congressman from Ohio, was indicted on corruption charges related to his time in office. Traficant was later expelled from the House of Representatives, becoming just the second member of Congress to be expelled since the Civil War.