1. In 1802, the city of Washington, D.C. was incorporated. This followed the signing of the Organic Act by President Thomas Jefferson, which established a permanent government for the District of Columbia.

2. May 2, 1863 was the day President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation granting freedom to slaves in the District of Columbia. This was one of the first major steps towards the abolition of slavery in the United States.

3. On May 2, 1908, the first professional baseball game was played in Washington, D.C. The home team, the Washington Senators, beat the New York Highlanders (later renamed the Yankees) 3-0.

4. In 1971, activists in the District of Columbia staged a May Day protest against the Vietnam War. More than 12,000 people participated in the demonstration, which culminated in a standoff with police at the U.S. Capitol. Over 7,000 people were arrested, making it one of the largest mass arrests in U.S. history.

5. On May 2, 2011, residents of Washington, D.C. celebrated the news of Osama bin Laden's death. Thousands of people gathered in front of the White House and at other locations across the city, chanting and waving American flags. The celebrations lasted late into the night.