1. On October 13, 1810, the town of Huntsville was officially incorporated. Initially settled by John Hunt in 1805, Huntsville quickly became a center for agriculture, education, and manufacturing, and is now the fourth-largest city in Alabama.

2. In 1864, during the American Civil War, Union forces under General William T. Sherman burned the town of Tuscumbia to the ground on October 13. This was part of Sherman's campaign to destroy Confederate infrastructure and morale, and he ultimately succeeded in capturing Atlanta and Savannah.

3. On October 13, 1931, the first electric streetcar took its inaugural ride in the city of Birmingham. The streetcar network ultimately expanded to include over 100 miles of track, but was dismantled in the 1950s as automobiles became more popular.

4. In 1973, Alabama native and former football star Joe Namath set the NFL record for most career passing yards. Namath retired in 1977 with a total of 27,663 passing yards, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

5. The city of Mobile celebrates October 13 as the "Day of the Races," in honor of the Battle of Mobile Bay. This naval battle, which took place on August 5, 1864, was a crucial victory for the Union and helped secure their control of the Gulf of Mexico. The Day of the Races includes a parade and other festivities, and is a major event in the Mobile community.