1. In 1967, over 100,000 people marched on the National Mall to protest the Vietnam War in what became known as the March on the Pentagon. The protest was organized by the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam and included speeches by notable activists such as Dr. Benjamin Spock and Norman Mailer.

2. On October 21, 1797, French architect Pierre L’Enfant was dismissed from his position as architect and city planner for the District of Columbia. Despite being the original designer of the city's unique street layout and government buildings, L'Enfant's his strong-willed personality and difficult temperament resulted in his dismissal by President Washington.

3. In 1918, a deadly influenza epidemic reached the District of Columbia, resulting in the closure of schools, theaters, and other public places. The epidemic ultimately claimed the lives of over 10,000 people in the city, with many victims buried in mass graves at the Congressional Cemetery.

4. On October 21, 1961, Civil Rights leader James Farmer was arrested in a sit-in protest at a segregated restaurant in Washington, D.C. Farmer, along with other members of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), were arrested and jailed for their peaceful protest, which helped to bring attention to the issue of racial discrimination and segregation in the city.

5. In 1986, Major League Baseball player Tony Fernandez hit a game-winning home run in the 11th inning of game 6 of the World Series, helping the Toronto Blue Jays win their first ever championship. Fernandez played for the Blue Jays from 1983 to 1990 and returned to the team for a final season in 1993, winning another World Series with the team before retiring in 2001.