1. In 1863, Nevada was admitted as the 36th state in the United States. This was during the midst of the Civil War, and President Abraham Lincoln signed the proclamation on October 31, setting the stage for Nevada to have a unique role in the war effort.

2. In 1876, the first regular passenger train arrived in Las Vegas. This represented a major milestone in the development of the city, which had been founded just a few years earlier in 1905. The arrival of the train allowed for increased connectivity to the outside world and helped to spur further economic growth in the area.

3. In 1931, construction began on the Hoover Dam. Located on the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada, the dam was one of the largest public works projects of the Great Depression era. It provided thousands of jobs and helped to provide hydroelectric power to the surrounding states.

4. In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed into law the Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act. This legislation provided for the transfer of millions of acres of land in Alaska to the state's native peoples in a historic settlement that recognized their sovereignty and rights to self-determination.

5. In 1991, professional golfer Tiger Woods won his first professional tournament at the Las Vegas Invitational. Woods, who was just 20 years old at the time, went on to become one of the greatest golfers of all time, winning 15 major championships and earning over $120 million in career earnings.