1. On September 25, 1774, the First Baltimore Tea Party occurred. This protest against British taxation was one of the earliest acts of resistance preceding the American Revolution.

2. In 1861, Maryland's Governor, Thomas Hicks, called for a special session of the state's General Assembly to decide whether to secede from the Union or remain part of it. The decision was ultimately made to remain with the Union.

3. On September 25, 1906, the first automobile race was held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds. This event helped to popularize the emerging technology of the automobile in the state.

4. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, a stunning feat of engineering that connects Virginia's Eastern Shore to the mainland, was dedicated on September 25, 1964. The bridge-tunnel includes two tunnels, two bridges, and more than 17 miles of road.

5. Finally, on September 25, 1998, Baltimore native Michael Phelps won his first international gold medal at the World Championships in Perth, Australia. Phelps would go on to become the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals (23 gold).