1. On October 18, 1863, the first official patent for a mechanical apple picker was issued to David Goodell of Salem, Oregon. This invention revolutionized fruit picking and greatly increased orchard productivity in the region.

2. The first issue of The Oregonian, Oregon's oldest continuously published newspaper, was printed on October 18, 1850. The paper has covered major events in Oregon's history, including the state's admission to the Union in 1859 and the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980.

3. In 1933, the Bonneville Dam, located on the Columbia River in northern Oregon, began generating electricity. The project was part of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal and provided jobs for thousands of workers during the Great Depression.

4. On October 18, 1982, Nike co-founder Phil Knight donated $25 million to his alma mater, the University of Oregon, to build a new basketball arena. The arena, named Matthew Knight Arena in honor of Phil's late son, opened in 2011 and is now the home court of the Oregon Ducks basketball teams.

5. In 1962, legendary rock band The Beach Boys performed at the Salem Armory Auditorium in Salem, Oregon, on October 18 as part of their national tour. The concert was a major event for music fans in the area and helped to solidify the band's place in music history.