1. Nevada became a state on October 31, 1864, but September 21 marks the day that President Abraham Lincoln signed the Nevada Enabling Act, which set in motion the process for Nevada to become a state. The act was signed in 1864, just a few weeks before the presidential election of that year.

2. In 1932, a deadly fire broke out at the Palace Club in Reno, Nevada. The fire started on the second floor of the building and quickly spread, killing six people and injuring dozens more. The Palace Club was one of the most popular casinos in Reno at the time and the tragedy made headlines across the country.

3. On September 21, 1944, the Nevada State Journal newspaper reported that the US Navy had taken over the Lake Tahoe area for training exercises. The Navy used the lake and surrounding mountain ranges for various purposes throughout World War II, including search and rescue training and aerial gunnery practice.

4. In 1970, the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino opened on the Las Vegas Strip. At the time, it was the largest hotel in the world, with 2,084 guest rooms. The hotel was renovated and rebranded several times over the years, and is now known as Bally's Las Vegas.

5. On September 21, 2019, Nevada became the first state in the US to hold a presidential caucus for the 2020 election. The decision was made to move the caucus up from its original February date in order to give the state more influence in the nomination process. The move was controversial, but ultimately successful, with a record turnout for the caucus.