1. In 1887, the New York Giants defeated the St. Louis Browns in game 1 of the World Series at the Polo Grounds. This was the first World Series to be played and was a best-of-15 series (which the Giants ultimately won).

2. In 1895, the first automobile race in the United States was held in Chicago. Two Manhattan-based firms, the Duryea Motor Wagon Company and the Motor Vehicle Company, entered the race with their steam-powered vehicles. Despite technical difficulties, the Duryea vehicle placed second and also won the distinction of being the first car to be driven in the state of New York (in 1894).

3. In 1923, one of the most famous skyscrapers in the world, the Woolworth Building, was completed in Lower Manhattan. At 792 feet (241 meters) tall, it was the tallest building in the world for 17 years.

4. In 1971, the U.N. General Assembly voted to admit the People's Republic of China as a full member. The vote was a historic moment in the history of the United Nations and signaled the start of a new era in Chinese international relations.

5. In 1994, a fire broke out in a subway tunnel in New York City, killing three people and injuring over 200 others. The fire was caused by a faulty electrical cable and led to widespread changes in the city's subway system, including new safety regulations and the installation of state-of-the-art fire protection systems.