1. In 1979, the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights was held on October 6. Over 100,000 people participated in the historic event.

2. On October 6, 1917, thousands of women marched to the White House to demand the right to vote. Over 30 suffragettes were arrested during the demonstration, which played a key role in the passage of the 19th Amendment.

3. In 2006, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center opened in the heart of Washington, D.C. on October 6. The state-of-the-art facility has welcomed millions of visitors and hosted thousands of events and conventions over the years.

4. On October 6, 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order establishing the Peace Corps. Since then, over 240,000 Americans have served in 142 countries around the world.

5. The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. welcomed the first giant panda born in the United States on October 6, 1985. The cub, named Hua Mei, went on to become a mother of her own cubs while living at the zoo.