1. On April 20, 1898, the Spanish-American War officially began, and Kentucky played a critical role in the conflict. Thousands of Kentucky soldiers volunteered to fight, with the 2nd Kentucky Infantry Regiment being among the first to arrive in Cuba.

2. On April 20, 1926, a deadly tornado struck the town of Stony Point, Kentucky. The tornado, which had winds of up to 160 miles per hour, killed 23 people and caused widespread damage in the area.

3. April 20, 2010, marked the day that the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion occurred in the Gulf of Mexico. Kentucky was one of several states affected by the subsequent oil spill, as many of the seafood products that the state relies on come from the Gulf.

4. In 1978, Kentucky Governor Julian Carroll signed into law the Kentucky Education Reform Act, which overhauled the state's education system and introduced a range of reforms, including changes to curriculum, teacher training, and funding.

5. On April 20, 1964, boxer Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali) defeated Sonny Liston to become the heavyweight champion of the world. Ali, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, remains one of the most celebrated athletes in the state's history.