1. In 1838, the Cherokee Indians were forced to leave their homes and march more than 800 miles to present-day Oklahoma. The journey became known as the Trail of Tears, and it began on November 7, 1838, when the first groups were forcibly removed from their homes in North Carolina.

2. On November 7, 1861, the Civil War-era blockade runner CSS Nashville was captured by Union forces off the coast of North Carolina. The ship was carrying supplies and materials that the Confederacy desperately needed, and its capture was a significant blow to the Confederate war effort.

3. In 1929, the North Carolina State Highway Commission was established on November 7. The organization was responsible for the construction and maintenance of the state's roadways, and it played a crucial role in expanding transportation access throughout the state.

4. On November 7, 1972, the North Carolina Zoo officially opened to the public. The zoo, located in Asheboro, is one of the largest walk-through zoos in the world, and it is home to more than 1,600 animals from around the globe.

5. In 2000, North Carolina became the last state in the United States to adopt a state lottery when voters approved a referendum on November 7. The state lottery has since generated billions of dollars in revenue that has been used to support education and other programs throughout North Carolina.