1. In 1889, the Great Johnstown Flood occurred on May 6 in Pennsylvania. The disaster was caused by the failure of the South Fork Dam, which released 20 million tons of water downstream, killing over 2,000 people and causing extensive damage to the town of Johnstown.

2. On May 6, 1957, Alfonse M. D'Amato was born in Brooklyn, New York. He later became a prominent figure in Pennsylvania politics, serving as the United States Senator from New York from 1981 to 1999.

3. In 1968, the Penn Central Transportation Company filed for bankruptcy on May 6. This was the largest corporate bankruptcy in U.S. history at the time and had significant impacts on the railroad industry and transportation infrastructure in Pennsylvania and throughout the country.

4. On May 6, 2010, an explosion occurred at the Massey Energy Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia, which was owned by a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based CONSOL Energy. The disaster killed 29 miners and sparked investigations regarding safety regulations and practices in the mining industry.

5. In 2017, Philadelphia hosted the 123rd Penn Relays on May 5-6. The Penn Relays is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, attracting thousands of athletes from around the world to compete at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field.