1. On November 17, 1911, one of the worst fires in Oregon's history occurred in the town of Lebanon. The fire started in a livery stable and quickly spread to nearby buildings, destroying over 75 businesses and homes.

2. In 1925, Oregon's first traffic signal was installed in Portland on the corner of SW 5th and Alder streets. This historic event took place on November 17, and marked a major improvement in the safety of the city's streets.

3. On November 17, 1978, San Francisco's famed "Zebra killings" reached into Oregon. One of the suspects in the racially motivated murder spree was caught in Portland after a tip from a local resident, leading to the eventual capture and conviction of the group responsible.

4. In 1986, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that a woman had the right to sue her physician for damages caused by her unborn child's birth defects. The landmark case set a legal precedent for mothers seeking justice in cases of medical malpractice.

5. November 17, 2016, marked the day that the Oregon Liquor Control Commission began to allow the sale of recreational marijuana in the state. Oregonians had voted in favor of legalization in 2014, and the new law went into effect on this historic day.