1. In 1869, the first intercollegiate football game was played held in New Brunswick, New Jersey between Rutgers and Princeton. The game featured a round ball instead of a modern-day football, and Rutgers won by a score of 6-4.

2. On November 12, 1892, the first public celebration of George Washington's birthday was held in New York City. The celebration included speeches, parades, and a fireworks display.

3. In 1954, the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel opened. The tunnel is 9,117 feet long and connects Brooklyn to Staten Island. It was the longest vehicular underwater tunnel in the world at the time of its opening.

4. On November 12, 1964, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge opened. The bridge connects Brooklyn to Staten Island and is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened.

5. In 2001, the World Trade Center site in New York City was reopened for the first time since the September 11th terrorist attacks. The reopening allowed for the recovery of human remains and personal effects.