1. In 1780, during the Revolutionary War, British forces led by Major Patrick Ferguson clashed with American forces at the Battle of Kings Mountain in North Carolina. The patriots, including many North Carolinians, emerged victorious, boosting morale and helping to turn the tide of the war.

2. On September 13, 1862, Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee invaded Maryland, kicking off the Battle of Antietam. The bloody battle, which resulted in more than 23,000 casualties, remains the deadliest single day in American history.

3. In 1923, the Appalachian Trail was completed, stretching from Maine to Georgia. North Carolina is home to a significant portion of the trail, including the iconic Roan Mountain and Mount Mitchell.

4. On September 13, 1999, Hurricane Floyd made landfall in North Carolina, causing widespread flooding and damage. The storm resulted in 56 fatalities and more than $6 billion in damages, earning it a spot on the list of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history.

5. In 2017, North Carolina State University announced that it had developed a potentially life-saving drug to treat snakebites. The drug, called Varespladib, works by targeting venom in a variety of snake species and has the potential to significantly reduce the number of deaths and permanent injuries caused by snakebites around the world.