1. In 1701, a group of French Jesuit missionaries arrived in New York City, marking the first time that Catholic priests had visited the city since the English takeover in 1664.

2. On November 27, 1776, General George Washington and his troops were forced to retreat from New York City after a six-month battle with the British. This day would mark the beginning of a long and difficult period in the American Revolutionary War.

3. In 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was opened to traffic, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn for the first time in history. The bridge was designed by John Roebling and took 14 years to complete.

4. November 27, 1927, saw the opening of the Holland Tunnel, a major engineering feat that allowed automobile traffic to travel under the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey for the first time.

5. In 1996, Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade featured its first-ever balloon based on a cartoon character: the famous cat and mouse duo, Tom and Jerry. The giant helium balloons have been a beloved tradition of the parade ever since.