1. On May 31, 1790, the newly formed federal government moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from New York City. This move was intended to be a temporary measure while a permanent capital city was established on the Potomac River.

2. On May 31, 1862, Confederate troops under the command of General Stonewall Jackson attacked a Union force near Winchester, Virginia. Though the Confederates were initially successful, Union reinforcements arrived and forced Jackson's troops to retreat.

3. May 31, 1894 marked the opening of the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, DC. The school was founded by philanthropist William Wilson Corcoran and is now part of George Washington University.

4. On May 31, 1962, three members of the civil rights group SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) were arrested for attempting to integrate a lunch counter at a Woolworth's store in Arlington, Virginia. The arrests sparked a nationwide boycott of Woolworth's stores, with protests and sit-ins taking place across the country.

5. May 31, 2012 was designated "National Senior Health and Fitness Day" in the District of Columbia. The day was meant to promote healthy living among older adults and included events and activities throughout the city.