1. On May 18, 1917, the deadliest tornado in Alabama's history struck the town of Coden, killing 31 people and leveling most of the town. The storm traveled across Mobile Bay and destroyed the city of Mobile's lumber district, causing millions of dollars in damage.

2. On May 18, 1951, the University of Alabama celebrated the dedication of its new football stadium, Bryant-Denny Stadium. The stadium was named in honor of legendary football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and former university president George Denny.

3. On May 18, 1963, civil rights protests in Birmingham, Alabama, reached a peak as thousands of African American children and teenagers skipped school and marched on City Hall to demand an end to segregation in their city. The protests were met with police violence, and hundreds of children were arrested.

4. On May 18, 1986, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, opened its Space Camp program, which offers hands-on and educational space-related simulations for children and adults. Since then, it has become a popular attraction, and has trained more than 700,000 "space campers."

5. On May 18, 2019, the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile celebrated its 50th birthday. The park features the USS Alabama, a historic battleship that saw action in World War II, and attracts more than 400,000 visitors each year.