1. The Battle of St. Leonard Creek occurred on November 8, 1775, during the American Revolution. British ships attempted to raid the small town of Benedict, Maryland, but were met with resistance from American militia. Though the British ultimately succeeded, the battle is notable for being the first naval engagement of the war.

2. On November 8, 1904, the Great Baltimore Fire destroyed over 1,500 buildings and left thousands homeless. The fire, which began in a dry goods store, burned for two days and caused an estimated $150 million worth of damage (equivalent to $4 billion today).

3. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, connecting Maryland's Eastern Shore with Virginia's Eastern Shore, opened on November 8, 1964. At the time, it was the longest bridge-tunnel complex in the world, spanning 23 miles.

4. On November 8, 1994, Republican Ellen Sauerbrey ran for governor of Maryland, hoping to become the state's first female governor. Though she narrowly lost to incumbent Democrat Parris Glendening, the election was controversial due to allegations of voter fraud.

5. November 8, 2008, marked the opening of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture in Baltimore. The museum showcases the contributions of African Americans to Maryland's history and features exhibits on topics such as slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, and black-owned businesses.